Kharge Urges Public Support for Rahul Gandhi at ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhor’ Rally, Accuses BJP of Undermining Democracy

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday appealed to citizens and party workers to strengthen Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to “save the country” and carry forward the Congress ideology rooted in truth, democracy and constitutional values. Addressing the Congress party’s “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhor” rally at Ramlila Maidan, Kharge said it was the collective responsibility of the people to support Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the party’s principles to protect every citizen’s right to elect a government.

Speaking to a large gathering, Kharge launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of attempting to weaken the Constitution and “enslave the poor” under the guise of Hindutva. He warned that a society which gives up its self-respect and democratic rights would ultimately face ruin. Emphasising the Congress party’s historic role, Kharge said it was the Congress that led India to Independence, adding that many BJP leaders were not even born when the country won freedom.

Kharge accused the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of spreading hatred and division through what he described as a “poisonous ideology.” He asserted that the Congress remains firmly committed to its own ideology and would work tirelessly to remove the BJP from power. Taking a dig at BJP leaders, Kharge said they excel at political “drama” but lack the courage and empathy to repeat Rahul Gandhi’s 800-kilometre yatra, during which he said Gandhi walked among the poor, listened to their problems and stood with them.

Referring to the Congress party’s performance in the recent local body elections in Kerala, Kharge raised slogans of “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhor” and “Vande Mataram,” urging people to fight boldly against the BJP. He alleged that the ruling party had come to power through “vote chori” and was now trying to take away the voting rights of the poor in order to remain in power through unfair means. He assured the crowd that every Congress worker would join the struggle to dislodge what he called a government sustained by malpractice.

Kharge also responded to criticism levelled by the BJP against Rahul Gandhi for travelling abroad. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently undertakes foreign trips even when Parliament is in session, without answering questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He asked Congress workers not to be intimidated by investigative agencies, which he alleged were being misused to target opposition leaders.

Reiterating historical arguments, Kharge said neither the BJP nor the RSS participated in the freedom struggle, yet they now seek to appropriate national symbols and mislead people by creating narratives around “Vande Mataram” and alleged differences between former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi addressed the rally and thanked Congress workers for their continued faith in the party. He assured them that the BJP would eventually be removed from power by adhering firmly to the Congress ideology of truth and non-violence. “It may take time, but in this country, truth always wins by following the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi,” he said, describing the political contest as a battle between two ideologies.

Gandhi said the struggle was between what he termed the BJP’s ideology of falsehood and power hunger and the Congress ideology of truth, which he said was embedded in the DNA of every citizen. Waving a copy of the Constitution, he described “vote theft” as a direct attack on Dr B.R. Ambedkar and the constitutional right of citizens to elect and remove their government.

He further alleged that the government’s failures—ranging from the destruction of small businesses and flawed implementation of the GST to demonetisation, unemployment and rising pollution—were a consequence of “vote chori.” According to Rahul Gandhi, the ruling party knows that without manipulating votes, it would be voted out of power by the people.