Congress Unveils Campaign Portal Against Alleged Large Scale ‘Vote Chori’

NEW DELHI:

The Congress party on Saturday launched an online portal as part of a nationwide campaign to mobilise public support against what it claims to be large scale electoral malpractice, a charge described by party leader Rahul Gandhi as “vote chori” (vote theft).

The portal aims to facilitate citizen engagement by encouraging individuals to register and participate in the campaign. According to Congress leaders, the initiative is designed to create a centralised platform where citizens can share concerns, document grievances, and demand reforms to ensure free and fair elections.

Addressing the launch, Rahul Gandhi alleged that “vote chori” was a “huge criminal fraud” on the people of India. “Our democracy cannot survive if the very process of elections is manipulated. This is not just about one party or one election, it is about the future of our republic,” he said.

The portal, accessible in multiple languages, will reportedly allow voters to verify their enrolment status, check for discrepancies, and report irregularities they encounter. Congress officials stated that the initiative is also aimed at countering what they describe as systematic disenfranchisement, particularly among marginalised communities.

Senior party leader Jairam Ramesh, speaking at the event, said the campaign was “a clarion call to all citizens to protect their constitutional right to vote”. He claimed that instances of voter list tampering, booth level malpractice, and misuse of state machinery had undermined public confidence in the electoral process.

The Congress leadership emphasised that the campaign would extend beyond digital mobilisation. Plans are underway for a series of on-ground activities, including district level workshops, legal aid sessions for affected voters, and awareness drives in rural and urban constituencies.

“We are determined to ensure that every eligible Indian has an equal and fair opportunity to vote, and that no vote is stolen or rendered meaningless through manipulation,” Gandhi said, urging citizens to “become partners in safeguarding democracy”.

The party also announced that it would be submitting a memorandum to the Election Commission of India, demanding an independent probe into alleged irregularities in recent elections and seeking tighter safeguards against tampering.

While the allegations have drawn strong reactions from rival political parties, the Congress reiterated that the campaign was “non-partisan” in spirit and open to all citizens who believe in electoral integrity.

The launch marks the beginning of what the Congress describes as a “sustained and escalating” movement in the months leading up to future state and national polls. “The right to vote is the bedrock of democracy,” Ramesh said. “We will not allow it to be eroded.”

The party confirmed that it will track participation and feedback through the portal to refine the campaign’s outreach strategy in the coming weeks.