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However, simmering rifts among local leaders of the INDIA bloc also came to the fore during Rahul Gandhi’s Raebareli tour
Addressing the media after chairing the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting, Rahul Gandhi said his party would soon place irrefutable proof before the public. File pic/PTI
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s two-day visit to his constituency Raebareli turned politically charged on Thursday after he once again raked up the issue of “vote theft”, promising what he called a “hydrogen bomb” level reveal against the BJP. His fiery statements not only sharpened the debate around electoral integrity but also exposed simmering rifts among local leaders across party lines.
Addressing the media after chairing the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting, Rahul Gandhi said his party would soon place irrefutable proof before the public. “We guarantee that we will bring explosive evidence of vote theft. What we showed earlier was only black-and-white; this time, we will present dynamic, more powerful proof. BJP people are getting irritated, but they should not worry. When the hydrogen bomb comes, everything will be clear,” he remarked.
The Congress leader alleged that governments in several states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Haryana, were formed through electoral manipulation. He claimed the campaign slogan “vote chor gaddi chhod” was spreading like wildfire across the country. “This is the truth people are realising—that vote theft has undermined democracy,” he said. Both the Election Commission and several BJP leaders have rejected the Lok Sabha leader of opposition’s charges, terming them an insult to India’s Constitution and democracy as well as petty politics.
Rahul Gandhi’s Raebareli tour was marked by both public enthusiasm and political friction. The DISHA meeting, which he chaired, witnessed several dramatic moments. Next to him was state minister Dinesh Pratap Singh, who just a day earlier had staged a protest by sitting on the Congress leader’s route, briefly halting his convoy. Their appearance together raised eyebrows, symbolising the uneasy undercurrents in district politics.
The meeting also saw walkouts and boycotts. Manoj Pandey, an expelled Samajwadi Party MLA from Unchahar, left midway after demanding that a resolution be passed condemning abusive remarks allegedly made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother from a Congress-linked platform in Bihar. “Rahul Gandhi’s attitude is stubborn. This was not just an insult to the PM’s mother but to all mothers of the country,” Pandey told reporters after storming out.
Similarly, SP legislator Devendra Pratap Singh from Sareni and his daughter-in-law, block pramukh Shivani Singh, left the venue, alleging humiliation by the district administration. Shivani claimed she was invited but was later stopped from entering despite repeated attempts. “This is injustice. First they call, then disrespect by blocking entry. As a woman and an elected representative, I feel insulted. I will raise this issue before the DM and SP in writing,” she said.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi held a Janata Darbar at the NTPC guesthouse, meeting around 1,000 people. He heard grievances ranging from pension delays to infrastructure complaints. A particularly moving moment came when a differently abled youth, carried on his brother’s back, sought a tricycle from the MP. Rahul assured him that his demand would be fulfilled, underlining his effort to connect directly with ordinary constituents.
Rahul Gandhi’s repeated references to “vote theft” have once again thrown the spotlight on opposition charges of electoral malpractice, particularly at a time when parties in Uttar Pradesh are gearing up for the 2027 state polls. By using the metaphor of a “hydrogen bomb”, the Congress leader signalled his intention to escalate the campaign into a national narrative.
September 12, 2025, 04:56 IST
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