The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has initiated a nationwide signature campaign targeting alleged electoral malpractices, particularly termed ‘Vote Chori’. General Secretary G.A. Mir announced the campaign’s goal of amassing 5 crore signatures to submit a petition to the President of India to address concerns over corrupted voting processes.
Mir spoke to reporters today at Omoh, Verinag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag after inaugurating the drive, emphasizing its importance in raising public awareness regarding their voting rights. He mentioned that the campaign runs from September 15 to October 15 and intends to safeguard the electoral integrity against what he describes as calculated electoral theft.
The AICC General Secretary accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating a “theft of votes,” facilitated by collusion with the Election Commission of India (ECI). He highlighted alarming statistics, claiming that approximately 65 lakh votes have been deleted in Bihar, an act he condemns as a stark violation of democratic principles.
“We are aiming for 5 crore signatures to present the petition to the President. Our campaign has made people aware of the importance of their vote and sensitized them to the protection of electoral rights — a first since Independence,” Mir stated.
Mir elaborated that various regions face similar issues, including unauthorized deletion and addition of votes, along with obstacles preventing voters from accessing polling booths. He stressed that the “Vote Chori” not only undermines democracy but directly assaults the electoral rights of every citizen.
In his address, Mir alluded to the widespread manipulation of voter lists, citing cases in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and the ongoing crisis in Bihar linked to a dubious registration system (SIR).
“Powerful start to the Signature Campaign against ‘Vote Chori’ today in Doru Constituency, Anantnag! Hundreds of committed workers joined from my own polling booth to safeguard our democracy. Every signature counts! We won’t let our voices be stolen,” Mir declared on social media, reinforcing the campaign’s grassroots involvement.
Furthermore, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has been vocal against the alleged systematic abuses, calling out the deletion of genuine voter registrations while pushing for accountability from the ECI. Under the leadership of both Mallikarjun Kharge and Gandhi, the Congress Party pledges to confront the ECI-BJP nexus and protect voter identity across India.
MLA Nizam Ud Din Bhat also highlighted the campaign’s significance, calling it an “indigenous people’s movement” spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi to uphold democracy and the rights of voters. As the campaign progresses, the Congress Party aims to galvanize citizens and ensure that their electoral voices remain untainted from political exploitation.
