During the ninth day of the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, reiterated his accusation of ‘vote theft’ against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He stated that the alleged practice originated in Gujarat and subsequently spread across the nation in 2014. Speaking at a gathering in Madhubani as part of the ongoing yatra, Gandhi emphasized his commitment to factual accuracy. He then criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s repeated assertions about the BJP’s sustained governance for the next four to five decades. Gandhi questioned how Shah could be certain about the BJP’s continued rule. He further elaborated on the alleged vote theft, claiming it started in Gujarat, reached the national level in 2014, and extended to other states. The Leader of Opposition also condemned a 2023 legislation that granted immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, suggesting it was designed to facilitate vote manipulation. He cited examples of alleged date changes during Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections, and highlighted the BJP’s role in appointing the Election Commissioner without Opposition input. The 16-day ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, led by Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, aims to raise awareness about irregularities in voter lists. The yatra, covering over 1,300 km across 20 districts, is scheduled to conclude in Patna on September 1. Bihar Assembly elections are expected later this year.
