Cong to launch countrywide battle against 'vote chori' 

Terming the "vote chori" as a "do or die" situation for the party, the Congress on Tuesday announced a major countrywide political "battle" ahead of Independence Day where it said the country's "existence" is at stake.

The Congress chose Kanhaiya Kumar, its youth leader from Bihar, to announce its mega plan against the "vote chori" allegation on the PM Narendra Modi government, while also questioning the credibility of Election Commission (EC). The move assumes significance since Kumar hails from a poll-bound state where the grand-old-party aims to dethrone the JDU-BJP government with the RJD. The party has been accusing poll body of colluding with the BJP to bring it to the power.

The announcement came after over a one-hour-long meeting was held with general secretaries in charges and heads or frontal organisation headed by the Congress' top brass, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi and national general secretary KC Venugopal, at the party's Akbar Road office. Kumar told reporters that the party on the eve of Independence Day at midnight would hold "mashal processions" at all state headquarters across the country. Besides, he said the Congress would hold "vote chor, gaddi chod (vote thief, leave chair) processions from August 22 to September 7.

Additionally, Kumar said the party would launch a signature campaign from September 15 to October 15.

"LOP Rahul Gandhi has put it before nation how democracy has been strangulated in this country," Kumar told the reporters. He said after the Independence it was decided that "sevaks" (workers) would be selected through votes. "This system is being weakened. The Constitution is being weakened. It is a do or die situation for the Congress which fought for the country's independence," said Kumar.

"It is not a political battle but ideological battle. It is about the existence of India... the Congress has taken a pledge along with the Opposition INDIA-bloc to save it," he said.