Rahul Gandhi Alleges Maharashtra-Style Election Hijack Now Playing Out in Bihar

NDC DESK

Bhubaneswar, July 11, 2025:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a public rally in Bhubaneswar on Friday, alleging that the party is attempting to hijack the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections with the tacit support of the Election Commission of India (ECI), mirroring what he claimed happened in Maharashtra.

“The BJP is repeating in Bihar what it did in Maharashtra, where elections were brazenly manipulated. This time, the Election Commission itself appears to be complicit. It is no longer functioning as an independent institution—it’s acting like a wing of the BJP,” Gandhi said.

He further claimed that in Maharashtra, between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, over one crore (10 million) new voters were mysteriously added to the rolls. “To this day, no one knows who these voters are or where they came from. Despite repeated requests, the Election Commission has refused to share the updated voter list or provide CCTV footage,” he said.

Gandhi warned that a similar pattern is now unfolding in Bihar. “Yesterday, while campaigning alongside BJP leaders, I clearly told the people of Bihar—we will not allow the BJP or the Election Commission to steal this election. We will stand firm in defense of democracy,” he declared.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also sharply criticized the Election Commission, accusing the constitutional body of lacking transparency and failing to ensure a level playing field for both ruling and opposition parties. He alleged manipulation in the electoral rolls.

Taking a direct swipe at the ruling party, Gandhi accused the BJP of attacking the Constitution and undermining its values. “The Constitution protects the rights of the poor, the farmers, and the working class. Nowhere does it say that this country belongs to Adani, Ambani, or a few billionaires. Read the Constitution—it clearly states that India belongs to all its citizens. Every citizen has the right to vote, and this land belongs to the people—not just a handful of the rich,” he asserted.

Gandhi continued his criticism, claiming, “Whether it’s Odisha or Chhattisgarh, one name dominates everything—Adani. It seems like Adani is running the Odisha government and even controls Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the Jagannath Yatra in Odisha, when the sacred chariot procession begins and millions gather in devotion, the parade is halted for Adani and his family. That tells you all you need to know about who really runs this state.”