Ashok Gehlot Alleges “Vote Chori”, Says Bihar Results a Threat to Democracy

By A Staff Reporter

Jaipur: As the Mahagathbandhan trails in the Bihar Assembly election results, Congress senior leader and the party’s Senior Observer for the state, Ashok Gehlot, expressed strong dissatisfaction, calling the outcome “disappointing” and raising serious allegations about the conduct of the polls.

Gehlot claimed that during his time in Bihar, he observed women being given ₹10,000 each, allegedly even during the election campaign period. “The Election Commission remained a mute spectator. Why did it not stop this? It should have, but it didn’t,” he said, accusing the EC of failing to enforce a fair electoral process.

He linked these allegations to Rahul Gandhi’s claim of “Vote Chori,” asserting that the situation in Bihar exemplifies the charge. According to him, incidents of rigging, booth capturing, cheating, and the misuse of money went unchecked, benefiting the ruling NDA. Gehlot further alleged that in Maharashtra too, “crores of rupees were given to candidates,” while parties like the Congress and RJD lacked such financial muscle.

Calling the trend a “threat to democracy,” Gehlot said winning elections cannot be the only measure of legitimacy. While acknowledging that the NDA will win and form the government, he emphasised that the Congress ideology remains essential for the nation. He also slammed the ruling alliance for “gathering money through electoral bonds,” arguing that the influence of money power has distorted democratic competition.