Vote chor, gaddi chhor’ signature campaign achieves historic success: Congress

Ranchi: The “Vote chor, gaddi chhor” (Thieves of votes, leave the chair) signature campaign, launched by the All India Congress Committee, has concluded in Jharkhand with what the party calls a historic success. Organized under the leadership of the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC), the campaign received nearly 2.5 million signature forms from all districts across the state, with additional submissions expected from remaining districts by tomorrow. The Congress described it as a powerful mass movement in defense of democracy.

State Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh expressed gratitude to party workers, office-bearers, organizational units, and supporters for their enthusiastic participation. He said the campaign represented a movement to protect democracy and the right to vote. Kamlesh praised the unity and commitment of Jharkhand Congress members, saying it reinforced public faith in democratic institutions and reflected the party’s determination to defend constitutional values.

Kamlesh referred to Rahul Gandhi’s recent revelations, which, according to him, exposed a planned conspiracy to manipulate voter lists. He alleged that systematic efforts were being made to delete the names of Dalit, Adivasi, and backward-class voters—an act that strikes at the core of democracy and equality. He added that these marginalized groups have historically been the voices of resistance against injustice and power abuse.

The campaign, which ran from September 15 to October 25, reached every village and panchayat in the state. Through awareness drives, Congress workers explained alleged manipulation in electoral rolls and questioned the Election Commission’s role in ensuring free and fair elections. Kamlesh warned that India’s democratic foundation—rooted in the sanctity of the vote—is under threat, and the deliberate disenfranchisement of marginalized communities amounts to the theft of public voice and rights.

He also criticized the BJP and the Election Commission for their silence over alleged irregularities in Mahadevpura and Aland constituencies of Karnataka, which, he said, have shaken public confidence in the electoral process. Kamlesh accused ruling party leaders of avoiding accountability and making misleading statements when questioned by the Congress.

The campaign saw active participation from senior Congress leaders including Pradeep Yadav, Shilpi Neha Tirki, Bandhu Tirki, Nishat Alam, Bhushan Bada, district presidents Satish Kedia, Chandeshwar Gop, Barkat Khan, Yahia Siddiqui, Deepika Besra, Somnath Munda, Prakash Rajak, Kameshwar Yadav, women’s wing president Gunjan Singh, and Prince Singh, along with hundreds of grassroots workers who collected and submitted signature forms.