Rahul, Tejashwi Assert EC Won't Be Allowed to Steal Votes in Bihar

 New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday asserted that all I.N.D.I.A. bloc constituents in Bihar were united for the upcoming Assembly elections and that the results would be “fruitful.” Addressing a joint press conference in Araria alongside RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI (ML) Liberation leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the bloc would soon release a common manifesto for the polls, due later this year.

“I call it a good partnership among all constituents of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc,” Gandhi said.

Launching a scathing attack on the NDA government at the Centre, Gandhi alleged that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar was an “institutionalised attempt by the Election Commission to steal votes to help the BJP.” He added, “We will not allow the EC to steal votes in Bihar. The poll panel is working for the benefit of the BJP.”

Tejashwi Yadav echoed the allegations, claiming that the Election Commission had lost credibility and was functioning as a “cell of the BJP,” calling it “Modi Aayog.” He said, “The EC’s SIR exercise is a direct attack on the democratic setup of the country. It is an attempt to steal people’s votes.”

Yadav also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent remarks on “infiltrators,” accusing him of spreading falsehoods. “Not a single case of illegal immigrants has been cited by the EC in its affidavit before the Supreme Court. Yet, the PM and BJP leaders raise this issue ahead of elections just to polarise voters,” he said.

Responding to journalists’ queries, Bhattacharya added, “The EC itself is responsible for the erosion of its credibility. The ‘Kendriya Chunav Aayog’ now deserves to be called ‘Kendriya Chunauti Aayog’.”

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Rahul jokes about talks with Lalu about his marriage

When asked about Chirag Paswan’s remark calling the Congress a “pichhlaggu” (sidekick) of the RJD, Yadav retorted, “I can pay Chirag Paswan back in the same coin but I will not join issue with him. I consider him an elder brother and would only advise him to get married, it is high time.” The comment drew laughter from the audience.

Rahul Gandhi then added, “The advice is applicable to me as well. Talks are on with his father,” in a light-hearted reference to RJD president Lalu Prasad’s earlier suggestion that Gandhi should get married.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi and Yadav were seen riding a motorcycle during their Bihar Yatra in Purnia as part of the 16-day Voter Adhikar Yatra, a campaign highlighting alleged irregularities in the state’s voter rolls.