Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday leveled serious allegations of 'vote theft' in the Haryana assembly elections. He claimed that approximately 2, while 5 million votes were manipulated in the elections held last year. Rahul Gandhi made this sensational claim just before the voting in Bihar, intensifying the political atmosphere in the state. He specifically cautioned the youth of Bihar, stating that the future of the state rests in their hands and urged them to exercise their franchise judiciously.
Allegations of 'Vote Theft' in Haryana
Rahul Gandhi adopted an aggressive stance during a press conference on Wednesday, bringing up the issue of 'vote theft' in Haryana, while he explicitly stated that 2. 5 million votes were stolen, and it was a deliberate plan. To convert a Congress victory into a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory. These allegations come at a crucial time, with elections imminent in Bihar, and Rahul Gandhi has presented this issue as a warning to the Bihar electorate. He believes that what transpired in Haryana could be replicated in Bihar, necessitating vigilance from the voters. His claims aim to create a narrative that questions the integrity of the electoral process.
'Vote Theft' Issue from Karnataka to Bihar
Prior to the allegations of 'vote theft' in Haryana, Rahul Gandhi had made similar claims in Karnataka, while following these accusations, he embarked on a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' (Voter Rights March) in Bihar, aimed at raising awareness among voters about their rights. According to the Congress, this yatra garnered significant crowds, and Rahul Gandhi received widespread public support. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav also participated in this march, sending a message of unity within the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), while subsequently, Rahul Gandhi also highlighted this issue prominently in his election rallies in Bihar, though the Mahagathbandhan didn't give 'vote theft' and 'SIR' (Systematic Irregularities in Representation) as much prominence in their overall campaign.
Mahagathbandhan's Strategy and RJD's Distance
Tejashwi Yadav, the Chief Ministerial candidate for the Mahagathbandhan, conducted as many as 18 rallies a day during the election campaign, while his speeches primarily focused on issues related to crime, development, employment, and women. He adopted an aggressive stance on local and state-specific issues such as migration, job scarcity, crime, dilapidated public services, and paper leaks. Some leaders associated with the RJD indicated that the party felt uncomfortable with an excessive emphasis on the 'vote theft' issue, believing it could divert attention from more pressing local concerns. In this context, Rahul Gandhi chose to stick to his allegations of. 'SIR' and 'vote theft' without filing a formal complaint with the Election Commission.
Questions Raised on Rahul's Claims
To substantiate his allegations, Rahul Gandhi claimed that a Brazilian model had cast 22 votes in Haryana. He showed a picture of this model, asserting that she voted under different names, sometimes Sweety and sometimes Seema. However, following Rahul's claim, a woman named Pinky came forward, challenging his assertion. Pinky stated that one of the 22 voter cards displayed by Rahul Gandhi, purportedly belonging to the Brazilian model, was actually hers, and she had indeed cast her vote in the elections. Pinky admitted that there was an error where someone else's picture was mistakenly printed on her voter card, but she argued that a wrong picture didn't invalidate the voter card as fake. This incident, to some extent, cast a shadow on the credibility of Rahul Gandhi's specific claims.
The Battle of Narratives and Emotional Appeal
Rahul Gandhi also expressed apprehension about similar attempts to influence the elections in Bihar. He alleged that a systematic method of 'vote theft' would be employed to try and assassinate democracy during the Bihar elections as well. Rahul Gandhi stated, "This is their system; they stole the Haryana election using this system. " In politics, creating an atmosphere plays a significant role, and Rahul Gandhi did precisely that by raising the 'vote theft' allegation before the Bihar polls. He attempted to build a favorable environment for the Mahagathbandhan, while by bringing up the Haryana issue, Rahul tried to convey to the people of Bihar that what happened there could also happen in their state. Rahul also invited people from a Bihar village onto the stage, attempting to. Demonstrate that the alleged irregularities of deleting names from voter lists remained unresolved. He presented this narrative as an emotional weapon, aiming to attract voters and motivate them to cast their ballots, especially on issues related to the fairness of democracy.
