Congress launches “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” campaign in Ramgarh — accuses BJP of undermining democracy

RAMGARH: The Congress Party has intensified its nationwide protest against alleged electoral fraud by the BJP, launching the “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” campaign in Ramgarh on Saturday. The event, led by J&K UT Vice President and former Minister Yashpal Kundal, marked the local beginning of a people’s movement initiated by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi from Bihar.

The campaign kicked off with a signature drive aimed at spreading awareness about what Congress terms “the systematic theft of democracy” and demanding accountability from those responsible for manipulating the people’s mandate. Raman Bhalla, Working President of J&K Congress, attended the event as the chief guest, accompanied by District President Sanjeev Sharma, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Babal Gupta, Mandeep Choudhary, and several other senior party leaders and workers. Addressing the gathering, Yashpal Kundal said that the “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” campaign seeks to defend the sanctity of the ballot and restore public faith in democratic institutions.

“This is a fight for truth and democracy,” Kundal said. “Congress workers across the nation are reaching every household to remind people that misuse of power and vote manipulation will not be tolerated.” Raman Bhalla accused the BJP of forming the government through vote theft, stating, “This regime stands on stolen votes. Congress demands that those who came to power by manipulating elections must resign immediately.” Echoing this, Vijay Kumar Choudhary alleged that the BJP, in collusion with the Election Commission, added fake votes and removed genuine ones — “a direct assault on the Constitution and the people’s democratic rights.”

Hundreds of Congress workers and local citizens participated in the signature campaign, pledging to protect democracy and the sanctity of their vote. Prominent local leaders including Teerath Ram Bhagat, Kewal Rana, Talveer Singh, Bhajan Singh, Kulbinder Singh, and Parmjeet Singh Pamma also joined the event, expressing solidarity with the movement. Congress leaders announced that the “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” campaign will now expand from district to block and village levels, mobilizing citizens to stand united for electoral justice and democratic restoration.

The initiative is being seen as a strong counter-political movement — a direct message to the BJP-led government and a renewed call to safeguard India’s democracy from what Congress describes as “vote theft and authoritarian misuse of power.”