At a rally in Valmiki Nagar, West Champaran, Congress general-secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called on voters to reject the ruling National Democratic Alliance, claiming the government aims to dismantle democratic institutions and warning that the next elections may be in jeopardy. She said the NDA “will destroy everything; unsure whether India will see polls in future.” Her remarks followed her brother Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of a large-scale election manipulation scheme in Haryana, dubbed “Operation Sarkar Chori”.
Gandhi accused the electoral machinery of favouring the NDA by erasing names on voter lists, citing what she said were 6.5 million removals including many women, in a special intensive revision exercise. She challenged citizens to act, asking: “Why are you silent? Drag their government out and make a new one.” The claims align with a campaign by the Congress party that contends democratic processes are under threat.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi released what he described as “H-Files”, in which he alleged more than 2.5 million fraudulent voters in Haryana, multiple votes cast under one identity and wholesale manipulation of electoral rolls. The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected these charges. Gandhi’s campaign used the term “vote chori” as a rallying cry.
The passage of political discourse from the Haryana case to the Bihar assembly election campaign demonstrates the Congress party’s strategy of tying local campaigning to broader questions of governance and institutional integrity. At the Valmiki Nagar rally, Priyanka Gandhi recalled the region’s legacy in India’s freedom struggle and said the incumbent government had conditioned the people to accept hardship as normal. She promised if her alliance wins, one government job per household will be offered, travel subsidies for students, monthly cash to women and up to ₹25 lakh in free medical treatment.
Prominent observers note the significance of the Bihar campaign for both alliances. The NDA has faced declining satisfaction levels on employment and development, while the Congress-led opposition bloc aims to capitalise on disaffection with the governing coalition’s policies. At the same time, allegations of electoral misconduct raise serious questions about the integrity of the election process at a time when the next general elections loom.
Democracy scholars point out that large-scale changes to electoral rolls under a “special intensive revision” mechanism are inherently controversial. Critics say bulk deletions or additions raise risks of disenfranchisement. The Congress argues that the exercise is designed to benefit the ruling party by eliminating opposition-supporting voters. The Election Commission insists its role ensures impartiality and transparency, but these statements deepen distrust among opposition parties.
Analysts observe that casting skepticism over whether free and fair elections will be held strikes at the core of India’s democratic credentials. By framing the narrative as a battle for the survival of elections rather than simply a contest for power, Congress hopes to galvanise younger and undecided voters who view institutions as critical for the country’s future.
However, opponents of the Congress code the approach as fear-mongering and point to the party’s own recent electoral setbacks and internal organisational weaknesses. They argue that rhetoric about institutional collapse may alienate voters seeking concrete development outcomes rather than existential political battles.
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