Telangana Congress to Intensify ‘Vote Chor-Gaddi Chhodh’ Campaign From Aug.14

Hyderabad: The Telangana Congress has decided to intensify its ‘Vote Chor – Gaddi Chhod’ (vote thieves, relinquish power) campaign against the BJP’s alleged “Vote Chori” (vote theft) in the 2024 general elections, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and senior party leaders set to participate in a three-phase agitation programme between August 14 and October 15.

The plan was finalised during a Zoom meeting chaired by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud on Wednesday, attended by AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluru Laxman Kumar, District Congress Committee presidents, and district in-charges.

The first phase will begin on August 14, the eve of Independence Day, with a ‘Loktantra Bachao Mashaal March’ at all district headquarters from 8 pm, featuring mass candlelight rallies involving MPs, MLAs, MLCs, DCC functionaries, block and mandal presidents, and leaders of affiliated organisations.

Between August 22 and September 7, the second phase will feature state-level ‘Vote Chor – Gaddi Chhod’ rallies in Hyderabad and all district headquarters. The party will organise padayatras, vehicle rallies, and public meetings to highlight alleged collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission. Senior leaders will address gatherings to mobilise large crowds and create awareness about the alleged Vote Chori.

The third phase, from September 15 to October 15, will involve a month-long national signature campaign, with Congress aiming to collect five crore signatures across the country to “protect the right to vote.” Party leaders and cadres will go door-to-door to gather support, urging people to oppose any attempts to manipulate voter rolls.

Goud also directed that party committees be set up from the village to the district level without delay — mandal committees by the end of the month and village committees by September 15. He instructed leaders to prepare for the second phase of the Janahita Padayatra starting August 24, ensuring wide participation and publicity for the Congress government’s development and welfare programmes in Telangana.

Goud stressed that the fight against Vote Chori was not just a party campaign but a movement to safeguard democracy, calling for maximum mobilisation in all three phases to send a strong message to the BJP and the Election Commission of India.