Patna, August 20 (HS): Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday sharpened his attack on the Election Commission and the BJP-led government during his ongoing “Voter Rights Yatra” in Bihar. Addressing a public rally at Sheikhpura on the fourth day of the march, Gandhi alleged that past elections in Bihar as well as Maharashtra were “stolen” with the help of the Election Commission.

“Bihar’s Last Election Was Rigged”

Speaking at Barbigha in Sheikhpura district, Gandhi declared:

“One day, the truth will come out that the last election in Bihar too was won by theft. The officials of the Election Commission should remember—when our government comes, we will certainly take action against them.”

Poor Losing Even Their Right to Vote

He emphasised that India’s poor had been left with only the right to vote, which, according to him, the BJP government was now attempting to snatch away.

“First they steal your vote, then your ration card, then your land, and finally everything else you own,” Gandhi told the crowd.

Allegations of Vote Manipulation

The Congress leader accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP in undermining democracy:

He cited Maharashtra, where despite Congress winning the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP allegedly overturned the Assembly elections “by stealing votes” with the help of the Commission.

He claimed that after the parliamentary elections, one crore new voters were suddenly added in Maharashtra’s assembly elections to tilt the result.

“20 Years of Rigged Mandates in Bihar”

Turning to Bihar politics, Gandhi targeted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directly:

“Nitish ji has been in power for 20 years. If an inquiry is done, it will be proven that the last Bihar assembly election too was won by vote theft. This truth will also come out one day.”

With his blistering charge, Gandhi sought to project the ongoing Voter Rights Yatra as a movement against electoral manipulation and the erosion of democratic rights under the BJP regime.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar