As Bihar braces for its high-stakes assembly elections, the Congress has launched a blistering attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of banking on “vote chori” (vote theft) and “vote revdi” (vote doles) to secure a sweeping victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 243-seat legislature. With Shah boldly predicting an NDA haul of over 160 seats, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh warned that Bihar’s politically savvy electorate will thwart what he called a calculated ploy to manipulate the democratic process.

In a fiery post on X, Ramesh mocked Shah’s electoral ambitions, redefining “VC” – typically Vice Chancellor, Venture Capital, or Vir Chakra – as “vote chori,” a pointed jab at alleged electoral malpractices. “The sutradhar of this new VC has set his sights on Bihar, confidently claiming the NDA will dominate with 160-plus seats,” Ramesh wrote, slamming Shah’s strategy as a mix of “stealing votes” and doling out populist sops to sway voters. “But Bihar’s people are too sharp for these games – they’ll crush these machinations.”

Shah’s remarks, delivered during a rally in Araria on Saturday, stirred the pot further. He accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad of pushing to “secure voting rights for infiltrators,” a charged claim that has inflamed tensions in the border-sensitive state. Promising to “drive out every infiltrator” if the NDA secures a two-thirds majority, Shah urged supporters to surpass their 2020 performance, when the alliance clinched 125 seats. “You must aim higher this time to hit 160-plus,” he rallied, framing the election as a referendum on national security.

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Ramesh, undeterred, predicted a Mahagatbandhan triumph, signaling a coalition of opposition forces – including Congress, RJD, and others – ready to challenge the NDA’s dominance. “When Bihar votes, the tremors will shake New Delhi,” he declared, hinting at ripple effects for the BJP-led central government. With the Election Commission poised to announce poll dates soon, the battle lines are drawn, and Bihar’s voters, known for their political acumen, are gearing up to decide whether Shah’s bold gamble will pay off or backfire.

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