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<\/p>\nTFP Bureau, Raipur, September 18, 2025: The Congress party\u2019s three-day \u201cVote Chor Gaddi Chhod\u201d campaign reached a peak of activity on its concluding day with large-scale public mobilization in Rajnandgaon, Durg, and Bhilai. Coinciding with the ongoing \u201cVote Adhikar Yatra,\u201d the campaign witnessed motorcycle rallies, foot marches, signature campaigns, and public meetings aimed at raising awareness about alleged irregularities in the voter lists and to highlight what the party calls a systematic attack on democracy by the BJP.<\/p>\n
The day began with a massive rally in Rajnandgaon led by Chhattisgarh in-charge and Congress National General Secretary Sachin Pilot, accompanied by State Congress President Deepak Baij, Leader of Opposition Dr. Charandas Mahant, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and former Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singhdeo. After offering floral tributes at the statues of Minimata and Chhattisgarh Mahtari and paying respects at a local Gurudwara, the leaders launched a signature campaign at Gurunanak Chowk. The event then transformed into a spirited bike rally, with thousands of supporters joining in, filling the streets with slogans demanding protection of voter rights.<\/p>\n
Addressing the gathering, Sachin Pilot said that vote theft was \u201ca grave threat to democracy,\u201d and alleged that the BJP was using advanced technology to manipulate voter lists. \u201cRahul Gandhi has already exposed evidence of names being deleted and marked fraudulently. This shows collusion between the ruling party and the Election Commission. Our fight is to take this truth to every citizen,\u201d he declared. Pilot described the \u201cVote Chor Gaddi Chhod\u201d movement as more than a slogan, calling it a mass uprising against injustice and a direct challenge to the misuse of power.<\/p>\n
At Minimata Chowk in Durg and Jamul Chowk in Bhilai, thousands gathered for marches and public meetings, where Congress leaders denounced the BJP for weakening democratic institutions. Deepak Baij accused the BJP of \u201ctarnishing the sacred land of Chhattisgarh\u201d and said the state\u2019s people were waiting to end BJP\u2019s rule. \u201cRahul Gandhi\u2019s call has ignited this campaign, and under Sachin Pilot\u2019s leadership, we are taking it to every household. The overwhelming public support gives us confidence that the struggle to restore democracy will succeed,\u201d Baij said.<\/p>\n
Leader of the Opposition Dr. Charandas Mahant raised concerns that the voices of the poor, farmers, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and backward classes were being systematically silenced through voter list manipulation. \u201cRahul Gandhi is fighting to protect the fundamental right to vote, which is being stolen from the weakest sections of society,\u201d he told the crowd.<\/p>\n
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Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel struck a combative tone, alleging \u201cvote theft, account theft, and electricity theft\u201d by the BJP government in Chhattisgarh. He accused the Election Commission of ignoring Congress\u2019s repeated complaints about voter list irregularities in the last Lok Sabha elections. \u201cThe BJP and the Election Commission are colluding. Multiple voter IDs for the same person, names deleted without reason, and tampered EVMs are proof of this conspiracy,\u201d Baghel charged.<\/p>\n
Former Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singhdeo echoed the criticism, highlighting the government\u2019s failure to resolve basic issues like power cuts and farmers\u2019 distress. \u201cA government that cannot provide food security or electricity has no moral right to continue in office,\u201d Singhdeo said, adding that the campaign was a reflection of the public\u2019s frustration with misrule.<\/p>\n
The Congress\u2019s three-day campaign, which began on September 16 in Raigarh, covered multiple districts including Korba, Takhatpur, Mungeli, and Bemetara, before culminating in Rajnandgaon, Durg, and Bhilai. Events included torch rallies, signature drives, and foot marches, drawing support from diverse groups including Youth Congress, NSUI, Seva Dal, Mahila Congress, city and district committees, and villagers from remote areas.<\/p>\n
Prominent leaders such as former ministers Tamradhwaj Sahu, Dr. Shivkumar Dahria, Amarjeet Bhagat, Umesh Patel, Anila Bhedia, and Guru Rudra Kumar, along with MLAs Devendra Yadav, Sangeeta Sinha, Harshita Baghel, Daleshwar Sahu, Bholaram Sahu, Indrasav Mandavi, Kunwar Singh Nishad, and Janak Ram Dhruv, were present. Former MLA Vikas Upadhyay and senior organizational leaders including S.A. Sampat Kumar, Jarita Laitphlang, Vijay Jangid, and Malkit Singh Gaidu also participated.<\/p>\n
With overwhelming public turnout, enthusiastic slogans, and widespread support across districts, the \u201cVote Chor Gaddi Chhod\u201d campaign has emerged as one of the Congress party\u2019s most visible mass movements in recent years. Leaders described it as a \u201cbattle for democracy\u201d that will continue beyond rallies and marches until voter rights are fully protected and accountability is restored.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mass rallies, marches, and signature drives mark third day as leaders accuse BJP of voter fraud and undermining democracy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[116,149,33],"tags":[123,122,609],"class_list":["post-3656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-congress","category-politics","tag-cg-congress","tag-inc-chhattishgarh","tag-vote-chor-gaddi-chhod"],"yoast_head":"\n