India
Addressing an election rally in Govindganj, East Champaran, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday claimed that over 65 lakh votes have been deleted in Bihar, while “25 lakh fake votes” were allegedly added during the Haryana Assembly elections. The Congress leader asserted that if fair elections were held in Bihar, the ruling NDA government would be voted out of power.
Priyanka Gandhi reiterated her brother and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote rigging” and accused the ruling alliance of disrespecting the people’s mandate. “The Prime Minister says opposition leaders insult the people of West Bengal, Kerala and Bihar. We are not insulting anyone; we are talking about your rights and empowerment. Their arrogance has reached a point where they disrespect your vote,” she said.
Recalling a childhood memory from Amethi, she shared how a woman once scolded her father, late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, for failing to install a promised water tap in her village. “She was not afraid to question the Prime Minister — that was the strength of our democracy,” Priyanka said, adding that today, citizens live in fear of the police and administration if they demand their rights. “The foundation of our country’s politics was laid by Mahatma Gandhi, where the people are supreme,” she said.
Meanwhile, polling for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections was underway till 6 pm, with some constituencies closing at 5 pm. The Election Commission reported a voter turnout of 42.31% as of 1 pm, with Gopalganj leading at 46.73% and Patna recording the lowest at 37.72%. Other districts such as Muzaffarpur (45.41%), Begusarai (46.02%), and Lakhisarai (46.37%) saw brisk participation.
Key constituencies recorded varying turnouts — Raghopur (43.3%), Mahua (40.41%), Bankipur (25%), and Mokama (41.78%).
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