Opinion

Congress blames Modi, Gyanesh for ‘vote chori’ but stays silent on Nehru’s ‘vote chori’

Political battle shifts from Election Commission to Congress’s own history

November 2, 2026

From Gyanesh Kumar to Nehru: ‘Vote chori’ becomes new political battleground

Neither the Congress nor its alliance partners in the INDIA bloc have a response to the BJP’s charge that Jawaharlal Nehru was the one who stole the election at the expense of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1947.

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for forcing the Congress to hold the mammoth rally on Sunday in New Delhi. Countering the Delhi Traders Association, which requested him to postpone the agitation at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi until the festival season gets over by 10th November, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi clan said the agitation was to save democracy, and the traders should approach Modi to facilitate their trading. The Sunday rally, labelled the Chalo Dilli Rally, was a big success if one is to go by Malayalam TV channels like Asianet News (owned and operated by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, president of the Kerala BJP).

The public meeting, which began almost three hours late, drew all the opposition leaders (except the DMK, AAP and AIMIM). It also strengthened the ties between the warring factions in the INDIA Alliance. Mamata Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress, was the cynosure as she cried and brayed over her party’s loss in the 2026 Assembly elections and blamed it on Modi and Amit Shah. In a turn of events, Mamata addressed M A Baby (CPI(M) general secretary) as Baby Ji and John Brittas (the modern-day Casanova of New Delhi politics) as Brittas Ji! Previously, she always addressed the CPI(M) leaders and cadres as Marxist goondas. It is a refreshing and welcome change, as Marxist leaders were seen getting emotional throughout her speech.

The remarks by Rahul Gandhi were devoid of any substance other than seeking the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. “I have all the evidence against Gyanesh Kumar with me, and it is better he leaves his chair and goes away,” thundered the 56-year-old Gandhi.

Though it was claimed by Rahul Gandhi that one million people would descend on Ramlila Maidan, it was an overstatement. The maidan could not accommodate more than 50,000 people at a time. The delay in the beginning of the rally was attributed to the sumptuous meal served at Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence, which included the choicest dishes ferried from a five-star hotel. Pork fried rice, pork biryani, various curries with chicken, mutton and beef, a variety of parathas and butter naan were some of the prominent items featured on the menu. While the leaders were enjoying the meals, cadres and second-rung leaders were marching in the sun singing paeans to the members of the Nehru-Gandhi clan.

But one missing point was the Congress’s decision to answer the charge by the BJP that it was Jawaharlal Nehru who held the first vote chori in the country. It is known all over the country that Nehru became the unelected and unopposed Prime Minister of independent India in 1947 by subverting the chances of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was the choice of the Indian National Congress Provincial Committees. Nehru was nowhere in the scene at that time, and the Congress leadership has maintained silence over the BJP charge.

While the INDIA alliance led by the Congress took out the massive procession with great fun and frolic (there were hundreds of CPI(M) women cadres from Kerala to add to the beauty of the rally), another rally which stood out for its dignity and decorum was happening in West Delhi as a homage to the victims of the Sikh population who were massacred by the Congress leaders following the death of Indira Gandhi on 31st October 1984. It was on 1st November 1984 that the Sikh carnage was launched by the Congress leaders, blaming them for the assassination by her own bodyguards. Though many Sikh leaders had expressed their reservations about holding the Chalo Dilli Rally on the day, held in deep sorrow by the community, Rahul Gandhi was adamant on his decision, which states that his hatred towards the community has not diminished in any respect.

He also threatened Narendra Modi that once the Congress comes to power, the latter would be sent to jail. “The 2024 election was illegal, and we do not accept or recognise the results,” said Rahul Gandhi. He also said that the agitation and rallies would continue till Gyanesh Kumar resigns from office.

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