Rathore Accuses BJP of Undermining Democracy, Calls for Public Support to Protect Voting Rights

The Congress intensified its attack on the BJP and the Election Commission during a Block Congress Committee meeting held in Kotgarh on Thursday, with Theog MLA and All India Congress Committee spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Rathore alleging that democratic institutions are being weakened and voters’ rights compromised.

Addressing party workers and local leaders, Rathore claimed that the impartiality and constitutional credibility of the Election Commission had been severely damaged. He alleged that attempts to remove millions of voters from the electoral process under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise amounted to an assault on democracy and the Constitution. He further accused the Election Commission of functioning under BJP influence and said such actions could never be accepted by the people of the country.

Rathore praised Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for what he described as a determined fight to safeguard democracy and constitutional values. He urged citizens across Himachal Pradesh and the country to stand with Gandhi and actively participate in protecting democratic institutions. Referring to previous political developments, he also accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise elected opposition governments and said recent actions represented a broader effort to weaken the democratic framework.

Appealing to voters, the Congress leader stressed the importance of exercising the right to vote and encouraged people to remain aware of their electoral rights while working collectively to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

District Congress Committee (Rural) President Harikrishna Himral said the party has launched a statewide awareness campaign against what it terms “vote theft” by the BJP. Acting on a call from the All India Congress Committee and under the guidance of State Congress President Vinay Kumar, the campaign aims to educate citizens about the importance of protecting their voting rights.

Himral thanked Rathore for attending the Kotgarh meeting and said Congress workers would organise protests and awareness programmes across all blocks of Shimla Rural district. He asserted that the party would continue raising public awareness on issues related to voting rights and electoral participation.

A large number of Congress leaders, office-bearers and workers attended the meeting and the subsequent protest programme. Later, under Himral’s leadership, party representatives submitted a memorandum to the Tehsildar of Kotgarh addressed to the President of India, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from office.