After his successful Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022, Leader Of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is now in midst of yet another yatra in Bihar ahead of the polls later this year . This time it is the – Voter Adhikar Yatra . THis yatra comes after his powerful press conference at the Indira Bhawan where he took on the Election Commission of India and accused them of vote theft or Vote Chori .
The vote chori ter immediately hit the bull’s eye and started trending on X and other social media handles like tracer bullet. The Gandhi scion’s charge rattled the ECI and the ruling BJP led NDA at the Centre . Who as usual painted Rahul as a sore loser after losing election after election under his leadership.
But the allegations of Rahul with specific details ( never mind some created controversy or were not correct ) hit the nail on the head. The pressure was on the ECI to come out to deny the charges made and come clean in the election scenario. As it set a dangerous precedent for democratic values in the country. The sudden upsurge of voters in states like Haryana and Maharashtra towards the near end of the voting had raised suspicion as to how could the result switch so dramatcally .
The onus was now of the ECI to sqaurely for its own reputation and credibilty address the issues raised by various oppostion parties . BUt the ECI responsed to Rahul Gandhi’s charge very late . And when it did come out with a press conference it turned out to be damp squib. The ECI as usual denied Rahul Gandhi’s charges and sought an affidavit or apology for the same And it was peeved off by comments like Vote chori. Rahul Gandhi remained defiant and took on the ECI. And in- fact rather went ahead and warned the CEC and other EC’s of serious consequences in the event of an INDIA alliance government at the Centre in the near future . Tne gloves were off.
BJP too reacted late on Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, party MP Anurag Thakur in hastily addressed press confrence alleged fake votes in sveral opposition leader’s constituerncies. But Thakur instead of exposing opposition himself stood exposed with his bravado which fell flat.
Interestingly , The ECI had sent notice to Rahul Gandhi over his allegations but did not do the same with BJP MP Anurag Thakur for the same offence. We took six months to collect data for one assembly segment of Bangalore Central called Mahadevapura. Mr Anurag Thakur got the electronic voter list of six Lok Sabha seats within six days,” Congress spokesman Pawan Khera claimed at a press conference. Thakur’s Press conference ened up exposing the BJP – ECI collussion. Rahul too echoed the same why affidavit or apology from me and not from Anurag Thakur who made the same allegations? . Thakur ever since that disastrous PC has gone silent.
BJP and Godi media have repeatedly mocked him, abused him but Rahul Gandhi continues to dominate the headlines even if they say he is non – serious politician. If he is non- serious why then Super Prime Time debates on Godi media channels on his bytes? Clearly he has made an impact which cannot be igonred no matter what. That’s the reality viewers.
Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort had raised eyebrows as he was the leader of Oppostion in Lok Sabha . The Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech may have been the longest but it ended up as an election speech not Independence day speech . Instead , Rahul’s absence was the talk all around. The absence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at the same event point to the deep mistrust between government and opposition. And does not seem to ebb in the coming days.
Lastly , The Rahul Gandhi led voter adhikar yatra is drawing huge crowds . And whether it translates into votes for the INDIA Alliance remains to be seen in the Bihar polls coming up later this year. Then only the real result of th yatra will be known. Watch this space!
