Rahul Gandhi Intensifies Offensive With ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ Slogan

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi intensified his campaign against alleged electoral malpractices on September 10, 2025, declaring that the slogan “vote chor, gaddi chhod” (vote thief, vacate your seat) has been proven true across India. Speaking during a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency of Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi vowed to expose these irregularities “in more dramatic ways,” accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating widespread vote theft.

Arriving at Lucknow’s Chowdhury Charan Singh airport, Gandhi was welcomed by Congress state president Ajai Rai and other leaders before addressing party workers in Harchandpur Vidhan Sabha, Dedauli. In a closed-door meeting, he cited “black and white” evidence of vote manipulation in recent Maharashtra and Karnataka assembly elections. “In Maharashtra, our alliance won the Lok Sabha polls, but four months later, we were wiped out in the assembly elections. Nearly one crore new voters appeared, all favoring the BJP,” Gandhi alleged, noting no change in votes for Congress, NCP, or Shiv Sena.

Gandhi claimed the Election Commission of India (ECI) refused to investigate or provide voter lists and videos when challenged. In Karnataka, he said Congress workers uncovered two lakh fake voters in one Bengaluru Central assembly segment, securing a BJP victory. “This isn’t limited to Maharashtra or Karnataka—it’s happening in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and massively in Gujarat,” he asserted, promising to present further evidence.

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Referring to his recent Vote Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, Gandhi highlighted cases of living voters being removed from electoral rolls, undermining their right to vote. “People who are alive are being struck off as if they don’t exist,” he said, labeling it a direct attack on democracy. The ECI, responding to earlier allegations, dismissed Gandhi’s claims as “false narratives” and demanded proof, asserting that the principle of “one person, one vote” has been upheld since 1951.

Gandhi’s visit included reviewing developmental projects and engaging with local communities. Posters in Raebareli, featuring Gandhi alongside RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and SP’s Akhilesh Yadav, proclaimed them “India’s last hope, Kalyug’s Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh,” reflecting strong regional support. Ajai Rai praised Gandhi’s efforts, stating, “Our leader has exposed vote chori, igniting pride and enthusiasm across the nation.”

District Congress president Pankaj Tiwari outlined Gandhi’s itinerary, which included interacting with the Prajapati community, inaugurating the Ashok Stambh at Gora Bazaar crossing, and inspecting an MGNREGS park in Moolihamau village. Gandhi was also set to meet booth-level workers in Unchahar and attend a District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting on Thursday before staying overnight at the NTPC guesthouse.

The allegations have sparked heated debate, with Gandhi’s campaign gaining traction amid growing scrutiny of electoral processes. As the Congress leader continues to rally support, his claims of systemic vote theft threaten to reshape India’s political discourse ahead of future elections, challenging the integrity of the democratic system.

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