New Delhi: As the political temperature rises, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a counter-offensive against the Indian National Congress, which is gearing up for its "Vote Theft" rally. The Congress rally, held at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan today, is aimed at targeting the BJP-led NDA government, with protesters chanting slogans of "Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod" (vote thief, leave power).
The BJP has responded to these allegations with strong denials and accusations of its own. BJP MP Sambit Patra accused Congress of politicizing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue by holding a rally, alleging it aims to protect infiltrators. He questioned their stance on vote theft, noting their silence when they win. Similarly, BJP MP Yogender Chandoliya slammed Congress' planned rally against the SIR of electoral rolls, calling the party 'bankrupt' of issues to challenge PM Modi. He further questioned their credibility, alleging past 'vote theft' by Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
The Congress party's "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" campaign has been gaining momentum in recent months. The campaign includes a district-wide signature campaign accusing the ruling party and the Election Commission (EC) of “stealing the people's mandate”. Protests have been held in multiple states, with leaders alleging large-scale voter list manipulation. Rahul Gandhi has been at the forefront of these allegations, renewing his claim of "vote theft" and stating that the party will prove it "again and again in more and more dramatic ways". He has also accused the Election Commission of acting in an autocratic way despite presented evidence.
In response to these allegations, BJP leaders have dismissed them as baseless and politically motivated. They argue that the Congress is trying to deflect attention from its declining support base and that elections are conducted transparently under the Election Commission's supervision. Some BJP leaders have also accused the Congress of "infiltrators first politics".
The "Vote Theft" rally at Ramlila Maidan saw a large mobilization of people, with protesters raising slogans and accusing the BJP of various wrongdoings. A member of the Congress Women's Wing, dressed as a prisoner, portrayed an Election Commission of India (ECI) official, stating that "vote theft is not just about votes; it's also about exam paper leaks, crimes against women, rising taxes, and looting the public in every possible way". Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat called for the Election Commission to become accountable and transparent.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain dismissed the Congress party's rally as a "complete failure," stating that the Congress is losing because of its own deeds and is trying to shift the blame onto EVMs and the Election Commission. He added that Congress leaders themselves are questioning their leadership and are holding the rally to prevent those questions from being raised.
The accusations and counter-accusations surrounding "vote theft" highlight the growing tension between the BJP and the Congress as the country approaches the next election. The Congress party is attempting to mobilize public support by raising concerns about electoral integrity, while the BJP is trying to defend its record and portray the Congress as a party without substantive issues. The coming weeks and months will likely see further escalation of this political battle, with both parties vying for the trust and confidence of the voters.
