Will Madhya Pradesh Congress Protest Support Rahul's 'Vote Theft' Claims?

Bhopal, Aug 11 (NationPress) In the midst of the ongoing uproar surrounding allegations of 'vote theft' by the Opposition, the Congress party in Madhya Pradesh has announced plans to hold a protest in Rewa district on Tuesday.

The head of the state unit, Jitu Patwari, stated that Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has laid out substantial evidence, exposing significant 'irregularities' in the voter list. He is demanding accountability from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Patwari questioned, "If the Election Commission has done nothing wrong, why did they fail to respond, and why were Opposition MPs detained?"

He also noted that Rahul Gandhi has expressed concerns regarding the fairness of the Madhya Pradesh State Assembly elections conducted in 2023.

Referring to data from the Election Commission, which indicates that approximately 8 to 10 percent of voters are suspected to be fraudulent, Patwari emphasized that the upcoming Assembly elections in November 2023 will utilize the same voter list.

Patwari remarked, "Rahul Gandhi is advocating for the constitution and the rights of every citizen in this nation. To amplify his voice, the MP Congress will conduct a peaceful protest in Rewa on Tuesday."

Meanwhile, Umang Singhar, the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, reiterated Rahul Gandhi's claims that the ECI is colluding with the ruling BJP, labeling the arrest of over 300 Opposition MPs as a "black day" in Indian democracy.

Numerous Opposition leaders were apprehended in Delhi on Monday as they protested against alleged electoral misconduct, raising slogans and attempting to breach barricades while marching towards the Election Commission.

About 300 Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, attempted to march from parliament to the Election Commission's office but were halted by police at a distance.

The demonstrators vocally opposed the commission and the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of 'stealing' elections and attempting to breach barricades before being detained and transported away in buses. "This struggle is not merely political; it is a fight to preserve the constitution," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.

He asserted, "We demand a clean and accurate voters' list."

Both Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have alleged that the voters' lists in states where they suffered losses have been compromised, citing instances of voters' names being removed or duplicated to skew election outcomes in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Furthermore, Opposition parties have denounced the Election Commission's decision to amend the voters' list in the significant northern state of Bihar right before the state elections scheduled for later this year, arguing it aims to disenfranchise many underprivileged voters. The commission has stated that modifications to voters' lists are communicated to political parties and that all grievances are thoroughly investigated. It has also noted that such revisions are necessary for removing deceased voters or those who have relocated.