Vote Chori Row: – Political tension gripped the national capital on Monday as the Delhi Police stopped Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc during their protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters. The march was held against alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
Chaos as Delhi Police Blocks Protesters
The protest, which began at 11:30 am from Parliament’s Makar Dwar, quickly escalated when police set up barricades to stop the crowd. Videos circulating online show Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal speaking to Delhi Police officials during the standoff.
The Delhi Police had earlier stated that no official permission had been sought for the march. Despite this, dozens of MPs from Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, DMK, AAP, Left parties, RJD, NCP(SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and the National Conference gathered in unison, demanding electoral transparency.
National Anthem and United Opposition
Before the march, INDIA bloc leaders sang the National Anthem at the Makar Dwar. The symbolic act was followed by slogans against the alleged voter fraud and calls for the ECI to act impartially. Interestingly, the march was held without the INDIA bloc banner to allow the participation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had quit the alliance last month.
Opposition’s Allegations: Vote Theft and Booth Capturing
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav accused the ruling party of booth capturing and vote theft, citing examples from previous Uttar Pradesh elections. Former cricketer and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin said the march was intended to send a “big message” to the Election Commission, urging it to address grievances.
RJD MP Manoj Jha went a step further, claiming that “arrogance and ignorance have become the EC’s attire.” Congress leader Amar Singh alleged that 65 lakh votes had been unfairly deleted from the rolls, questioning the ECI’s independence compared to the era of T.N. Seshan.
ECI Defends Process, Says No Objections Filed
In response, the Election Commission stated that since the start of the claims and objections period in Bihar, “not even a single claim or objection has been submitted by any political party.” JDU MP Sanjay Jha dismissed the protest as unnecessary, claiming that the people of Bihar were satisfied with the process.
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Disruptions
Inside Parliament, proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned until 2 pm after Opposition members disrupted business over the Bihar SIR and alleged electoral malpractice.
Rahul Gandhi’s Earlier Claims
On August 7, Rahul Gandhi had presented Congress’s research on Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly seat, alleging vote theft of over 1 lakh votes. He claimed the 2024 general elections were “choreographed” by the ECI to benefit the BJP, which he accused of being “immune to anti-incumbency.”
Security Tightened Around Protest Route
Security forces had been deployed in large numbers, with barricades erected near Transport Bhawan to prevent protesters from reaching the ECI office. The Commission has, however, scheduled an appointment to meet 30 MPs at noon.