Congress to Rally Against Alleged 'Vote Chori' on December 14
The Indian National Congress (INC) has announced a major rally in New Delhi on December 14, 2025, to protest against what it alleges is "vote chori" (vote theft) in recent elections. The rally, titled "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" (Vote Thief, Leave the Throne), will be held at Ramlila Maidan and is intended to highlight the party's concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process in India.
The INC has been raising concerns for months about the alleged manipulation of voter lists, including the addition of "bogus voters" and the deletion of voters perceived to be inclined towards the opposition. These accusations have largely centered around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Congress claims that the ECI, historically viewed as an impartial body, has become a "blatantly partisan player" acting in favor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The rally serves as the culmination of a nationwide signature campaign launched by the Congress to gather public support against the alleged irregularities. Congress leaders have stated that they have collected crores of signatures from across India, rejecting what they describe as the BJP-ECI's tactics of manipulating voter rolls. State units have been handing over the collected signatures to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in the lead-up to the rally. For instance, the Punjab unit recently submitted 27 lakh signatures.
The INC's accusations have intensified following their performance in the Bihar elections, which they have described as a "vote chori" orchestrated by the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and the Election Commission. Party leaders have also pointed to the ongoing SIR process in 12 states and Union Territories, including Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, as further evidence of alleged manipulation. The second phase of the SIR process is scheduled to continue until December 4, adding to the Congress's concerns.
The BJP has consistently dismissed the Congress's allegations as baseless and born out of political frustration. The ECI has also defended its processes, asserting that its actions are in line with constitutional mandates to ensure accurate voter rolls.
The December 14 rally is expected to draw participation from senior Congress leaders and party workers from across the country. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi are expected to attend the rally. The INC views the rally as the beginning of a larger effort to "reclaim Indian democracy" from those who seek to manipulate the electoral system. K.C. Venugopal, Congress General Secretary, has asserted that the party will not remain silent in the face of attacks on the electoral system.
The rally also comes amidst criticism of Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the ECI. A group of retired judges, bureaucrats, and military officers recently issued an open letter criticizing the Congress party's "vote chori" campaign. The letter, signed by 272 individuals, expressed concern that India's democracy is under assault from "venomous rhetoric" directed towards its foundational institutions.
The Congress hopes that the rally will ignite a nationwide reckoning and put the spotlight on the functioning and impartiality of the Election Commission ahead of upcoming state Assembly elections.
