NDA attempting vote theft in Bihar, similar to Maharashtra: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated his allegation of poll rigging in Maharashtra Assembly elections and warned that a similar attempt of manipulation could be repeated in Bihar which goes to polls later this year.

 

"The way there was vote theft in the Maharashtra elections, a similar attempt is being made in Bihar,” Gandhi said, addressing INDIA bloc workers during a protest march to the Election Commission's office in Patna against the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in the state.

 

Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said the INDIA bloc’s poor performance in Maharashtra elections, despite a majority in the Lok Sabha polls, prompted them to do a deep data review which revealed a suspicious voting pattern.

 

"As we looked into it, we discovered that between the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, one crore new voters were added. In the assembly elections, 10 per cent more people voted. When we checked where these new voters came from, we were surprised. In every constituency where voter numbers increased, the BJP won. All the new votes went to the BJP,” said the Rae Bareli MP.

 

Gandhi also targeted the poll panel, saying the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar was an attempt to steal the election.

 

"The Election Commission must protect the Constitution... it is working on instructions from the BJP. These Election Commissioners have been nominated by the BJP. The special intensive revision of the electoral rolls is an attempt to steal an election. We will not allow the EC to steal the (voting) rights of the electorate, especially the youth," he said.

 

Gandhi also accused the Commission of withholding crucial voter data and booth videography from the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

 

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI general secretary D. Raja and senior leaders of other opposition parties attended the march.

India