On Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that one in every six BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha achieved their seats through “vote chori.” He provocatively asked if they should be called “ghuspethiya” under the BJP’s own terminology.
Gandhi emphasized that if equitable elections were conducted today, the BJP would struggle to secure even 140 seats in the Lok Sabha. His statement reflects his ongoing criticism of the party’s electoral strategies and practices.
In his remarks posted in Hindi on X, he stated, “Through vote theft, sometimes individual seats are stolen, and at other times, an entire government.” Gandhi estimated that out of the 240 BJP MPs, about 40 have potentially attained their roles through unethical means.
He continued to question the legitimacy of the current government, stating, “They are not hard to identify – should we, in the BJP’s own parlance, label them ‘ghuspethiya’?” Adding to this, he pointed fingers at Haryana, proclaiming that the entire government in that state exemplifies this label.
His remarks point to a broader concern regarding electoral integrity in India. Gandhi described the institutions involved in the election process as being manipulated, claiming they operate under a “remote-controlled” system.
According to Gandhi, “Their real fear is the truth. For if fair elections were to be held, they would not be able to win even 140 seats today.” This claim challenges the BJP’s longstanding dominance in Indian politics.
On the previous day, Gandhi denounced the BJP’s victories in the Bengal and Assam assembly polls, labeling them as “theft” of democratic mandates. He underscored that these wins are significant steps toward the BJP’s alleged mission to undermine Indian democracy.
Gandhi extended support to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which faced losses to the BJP, calling for unity among opposition parties. He expressed concern over those reveling in the TMC’s defeat, urging them to recognize that this isn’t merely about one party’s loss; it’s about the larger health of democracy in India.
He stated, “Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or another. This is about India.” Gandhi’s words resonate amidst the backdrop of the BJP’s significant electoral wins in key states.
The BJP recently succeeded in ousting the Trinamool Congress from power in West Bengal and achieved a third consecutive victory in Assam as the results of the assembly polls emerged on Monday.
