Armed with a powerpoint presentation, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared key insights and evidence against BJP's "vote theft" with the connivance of the Election
Commission at dinner meet attended by the INDIA Bloc. The opposition bloc also discussed the Special Intensive Revision or SIR in Bihar, Vice-Presidential elections and other pressing issues on Thursday evening. The powerpoint presentation included photo evidence of fake voters being used in many constituencies across the country. At least 50 leaders from 25 parties attended the meet - the first physical meeting of top leaders of the opposition bloc since they last met in June 2024, soon after the Lok Sabha elections at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence. Gandhi explained the entire game of how the BJP and the Election Commission were "rigging" the elections, the Congress said. "A united front against electoral manipulation! We are committed to protecting democracy and will save it from being destroyed at all costs," the Congress said in a post on X later. In a post on Facebook, Gandhi said, "I laid out BJP-EC's #VoteChori blueprint before INDIA alliance leaders tonight. INDIA is united, determined, and ready to defend democracy." "What I say to the people is my word. Take it as an oath," he added. Besides Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, senior opposition leaders like NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti were part of the meet. Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNM chief Kamal Haasan also attended the meet. DMK was represented by Tiruchi Siva and T R Baalu. Opposition leaders are set to take out a protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters in the national capital against the charges of "election rigging and fraud" as alleged by Gandhi. Earlier in the day, Gandhi made a presentation with explosive claims of a "huge criminal fraud" in polls through "collusion" between the BJP and the Election Commission. Congress general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal termed the meeting as one of the "most successful". "Everyone was shocked after seeing the presentation. Everyone condemned the way democracy is being killed. Everyone was unanimous to act against this. We need a clear voter list, a digital voter list is the immediate necessity of the nation," he said. Venugopal said RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav discussed the Bihar Yatra and invited all leaders of the alliance to participate in it during its conclusion on September 1. "We discussed about the EC march," he said, adding that several opposition leaders would be part of a protest march on Monday from Parliament to the Election Commission office, against the "poll fraud" charges. Asked whether the vice presidential election was also discussed, he said, "There wasn't much discussion on the vice presidential election... There are other occasions for it". Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi called the meeting "positive", and said the SIR and the revelations made by Gandhi remained the main issues. He added that it was not a "formal" meeting, and other issues were also discussed among leaders.
"The way opposition parties have been united in Parliament in national interest and have cornered the government, the same unity was visible in the meeting as well," Gogoi said.
He said the presentation made by Gandhi was discussed in the meeting, and some of the evidences presented by him were also presented to the opposition leaders.
Asked if the upcoming vice-presidential poll was also discussed, he said, "The main intention was that all leaders should come together... This is not a formal meeting, different issues are likely to be taken up."
With inputs from PTI
