5 crore join signature drive against ‘vote theft’: Cong

The Congress on Thursday said that more than five crore citizens across the country had joined its ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chod’ campaign, a nationwide signature drive launched to protest against the alleged manipulation of electoral rolls and electoral frauds.

In a statement, AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said the campaign was a part of the party’s broader movement to “defend democracy” and expose alleged vote theft and collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission.

The drive was launched on September 15, following a series of state-level rallies between August 22 and September 7.

Venugopal said the drive had drawn participation from community leaders, professionals and party functionaries, who had registered their protest against “the ongoing subversion of democratic norms” through fake voter entries and duplicate votes.

“The collection of over five crore signatures is a powerful testimony to the anger, apprehension and deep concern among ordinary citizens about the naked murder of democracy through manipulative practices,” said Venugopal.

He said in a meeting of general secretaries, in-charges and PCC presidents on November 5, it was decided that the first phase of the campaign would conclude on November 8.

The second phase of the campaign would involve gathering more signatures across the country.

Targets Centre over unemployment

• The Congress on Thursday hit out at PM Modi-led government over rising unemployment and economic distress.
• The party cited data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, which showed India’s unemployment rate at a six-month high of 7.5% in October.
• In a post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said all sections of society -- including students, youth, farmers, labourers, workers, shopkeepers, employees and traders – had been suffering under the 11 years of the BJP’s misrule.
• He accused the government of pushing the nation into an economic crisis, marked by inflation, job losses and widening inequality.