PM Modi's Dangerous Plot Threatens Your Voting Rights! says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge unleashed a blistering attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of manipulating elections and endangering the Constitution during a rally in Sasaram, Bihar, a Congress stronghold reclaimed from the BJP in last year’s parliamentary polls. The rally marked the launch of the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra,' a fortnight-long campaign flagged off by Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha opposition leader.

Kharge alleged that the Election Commission has become an "agent" of the Modi government, citing irregularities in voter lists. He claimed that in Maharashtra, 1 crore voters were added between the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, allegedly favoring the BJP-led coalition.

Similar tactics, he warned, are underway in Bihar through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of assembly polls. "The Modi government sidelined the Supreme Court’s advice to include the Chief Justice of India in the Election Commission’s selection committee, instead placing a Union minister to ensure compliance," Kharge charged.

He also slammed Modi for claiming, during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, that the RSS deserved credit for India’s freedom. "RSS worked with British imperialists, betraying real freedom fighters. Modi’s statement insults those who shed blood for our nation," Kharge said, urging Bihar’s people, known for their role in the 1942 Quit India movement, to protect their voting rights by defeating the BJP.

Also Read: BJP: Gandhi, Kharge Absence at Red Fort Reflects "Disrespect"

Kharge accused the RSS of historically opposing democracy, criticizing Jawaharlal Nehru’s introduction of universal adult suffrage. "They mocked Nehru, saying empowered women would vote him out. That mindset persists," he alleged. He also criticized the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, calling it "blind and deaf" and claiming it obstructed Congress workers at the rally’s helipad.

RJD president Lalu Prasad, despite frail health, spoke briefly, urging unity to "drive out the BJP-RSS combine and strengthen democracy." Accompanied by his son Tejashwi Yadav, the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate, Prasad ended with a humorous Bhojpuri song, sparking laughter, and chanted support for Gandhi, Kharge, and Yadav.

Tejashwi Yadav accused the NDA government, in power for two decades, of mimicking opposition promises, such as waiving exam form fees. "Bihar’s people no longer trust this insincere government. They will vote for change," he asserted.

CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and Vikassheel Insan Party chief Mukesh Sahni criticized the Election Commission for ignoring their concerns while holding a press conference on the day of the rally.

CPI(M) politburo member Subhashini Ali highlighted that among the 65 lakh names dropped from Bihar’s draft electoral rolls, women form a significant portion, urging them to join the yatra in large numbers to protect their rights.

The rally underscored the opposition’s unified stand against the BJP, with leaders calling for a robust defense of democratic principles as Bihar heads toward crucial assembly elections.

Also Read: Congress Video Targets Alleged ‘Vote Chori’ in Polls