The Congress party has announced a significant rally titled ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ scheduled for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge made this announcement on Monday, highlighting concerns over alleged electoral malpractices. The rally aims to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an immediate cessation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Kharge expressed that the constitutional right to vote for millions of Indians is under threat, attributing the responsibility to the Chief Election Commissioner. He accused Kumar of acting under the influence of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The rally is positioned as a response to what the Congress perceives as a significant threat to democracy.

In his video address, Kharge also addressed the issue of inflation, stating that the government appears indifferent to the financial struggles faced by citizens during the festive season. He urged the public to participate actively in the rally to safeguard the Constitution and democracy, reinforcing the message of the event.

BJP to Counter with Padayatra on November 2

On the following day, November 2, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to lead a foot march in Telangana, aimed at countering the Congress’s narrative regarding the SIR. Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao confirmed Shah’s participation in the ‘loktantra bachao, arajakta hatao’ (save democracy, remove anarchy) padayatra. This initiative is positioned as a direct response to the Congress’s allegations of electoral irregularities.

Rao accused the Congress party of spreading misinformation about the electoral roll revision process. He challenged Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to identify voters whose names were allegedly removed from the rolls. The BJP asserts that the SIR is a necessary exercise to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

Rao defended the SIR, stating that the names of voters removed from the rolls fell into categories such as ‘Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate’ (ASDD). He claimed that a significant number of voters had either passed away or had moved permanently, thus justifying their removal from the electoral rolls. He also mentioned an instance of a voter in Hyderabad who had multiple registrations.

Political Tensions Escalate in Telangana

Rao further targeted Kharge’s comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the Congress party is struggling to accept the Prime Minister’s rise from humble beginnings. He expressed that the Congress is desperate to regain power after a series of electoral losses since 2014. He called upon party workers to protest by burning effigies of Congress leaders in response to Kharge’s remarks.

Additionally, Rao highlighted the ongoing water crisis in Telangana, stating that over 300 mandals are experiencing drought-like conditions due to insufficient rainfall. He urged the Chief Minister to focus on resolving the water shortages rather than participating in the rally in Delhi. Rao noted that around 8,000 water tankers are being deployed daily in Hyderabad to address the crisis.

In light of the political landscape, Rao remarked on the rising popularity of the BJP since Rahul Gandhi’s leadership within the Congress. He suggested that the party’s efforts to promote Gandhi as a potential Prime Minister are ineffective, stating, “you cannot market a failed product.” This reflects the intense rivalry between the two parties as they prepare for the upcoming electoral battles.

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