New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi emphasized that the topic of purported “vote theft” is a crucial matter for her party within the INDIA bloc, in light of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement suggesting it is primarily a Congress matter.

“Omar Abdullah leads his party and is articulating their perspective,” Chaturvedi remarked. “For us, the issue of vote theft is of immense importance within the context of the INDIA bloc.” She underscored that her party's concerns stem from thorough evaluations and not merely political posturing.

Quoting a recent press event featuring Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray, Chaturvedi noted, “Aditya Thackeray himself mentioned in his press conference how voter registrations occurred. There were instances of multiple additions at identical addresses, with the same images, resulting in thousands of such registrations.”

She pointed out that the data was presented in a booth-by-booth manner, revealing what she termed as a severe lack of accountability. “Indeed, voter additions and deletions are occurring, and there is no accountability in place,” she stated.

Her remarks arise amid a wider discussion within the opposition coalition following Abdullah’s assertion that the Congress’ campaign against 'vote chori' is unrelated to the INDIA bloc. Abdullah emphasized that each party is free to determine its political agenda, and the alliance should not be automatically associated with Congress' stance on the issue.

Supporting the Congress’ broader ideological framework, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat stated that the discussion extends beyond electoral results. “When Rahul Gandhi initiated the Bharat Jodo Yatra, our Congress Party advocated for the principles of our freedom struggle — nation-building and the ongoing protection of institutions to unify the nation,” Bhagat explained.

He noted that while coalition partners might have differing opinions, Rahul Gandhi’s viewpoint reflects the fundamental ideology of Congress. “This matter transcends mere allegations of vote theft; it centers around upholding constitutional values and ensuring our institutions function properly,” Bhagat added.

In response to J&K CM’s remark that 'vote chori is a Congress issue', BJP MLA Ram Kadam commented, “We observe a political coalition where one leader states one thing while another contradicts it. There is a lack of consistency and unity of thought. How can they govern the country if they can't even reach a consensus? This is why we have secured power for the third consecutive time, with the public choosing our Prime Minister Modi.”

The conflicting statements highlight the varying perspectives within the INDIA bloc regarding how the topic of electoral integrity should be publicly addressed. While some partners perceive it as a party-centric campaign, others, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, argue that issues surrounding voter additions, deletions, and institutional accountability require collective focus.