Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), accusing it of plotting to “steal” the Bihar assembly elections in the same manner she claimed it did in Haryana. Addressing consecutive rallies in Sitamarhi and East Champaran districts, the Congress general secretary alleged that the Election Commission (EC) was “colluding with the government” to undermine India’s Constitution and democratic institutions.
“Just like they stole the entire election in Haryana, they are preparing to do the same in Bihar by deleting 65 lakh votes from the electoral rolls,” Priyanka claimed, addressing large crowds gathered for her campaign meetings.
Her remarks come a day after similar allegations were made by her brother Rahul Gandhi, who claimed the 2024 Haryana assembly elections were “stolen”. Rahul had cited discrepancies in voter lists, alleging that around 25 lakh entries were fake and that the Election Commission had colluded with the BJP to secure its victory. According to him, one of the examples included a “Brazilian model’s photograph” being used multiple times, 22 instances across 10 polling booths in Haryana’s Rai constituency.
“Rahul Gandhi’s fight is for you and for the truth. He is continuing the same struggle that Mahatma Gandhi once fought,” Priyanka Gandhi told people gathered at the political meeting, urging them to stand up against what she called an assault on democracy.
In addition, Wayanad MP lashed out at Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar, Vivek Joshi and S. S. Sandhu, accusing them of “mocking the Constitution and democracy of India”. “If you think you will live comfortably after retirement, that is not going to happen,” she warned, implying that accountability would follow those who undermine public trust in elections.
Priyanka asserted that if the Bihar polls were conducted fairly, the NDA government would be “uprooted” and replaced by a people-centric administration. “This government has no respect for the people of Bihar, who have contributed immensely to the nation’s progress,” she said. The senior Congress leader also took aim at the NDA government’s governance record, claiming that “27 bridges have collapsed in the last three years” due to poor infrastructure and neglect.
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she remarked, “He is the Prime Minister of India, does he have nothing better to do than measure the size of opposition leaders’ photos on posters?” The comment was a reference to Modi’s jibe about Lalu Prasad Yadav’s image being missing from RJD’s campaign materials.
Priyanka Gandhi outlined the INDIA bloc’s welfare agenda for Bihar, promising extensive social and economic reforms if the alliance is voted to power. She said the coalition would introduce free health insurance cover of up to ₹25 lakh per family, provide cooking gas cylinders at a subsidised rate of ₹500, and offer monthly financial assistance of ₹2,500 to women. The bloc also plans to allocate land or housing in the name of women from poor households. Additionally, Priyanka pledged to raise old-age and widow pensions to ₹1,500, with an annual increment of ₹200, while pensions for persons with disabilities would be enhanced to ₹3,000. She called on voters to protect their constitutional rights and ensure that Bihar’s election results truly reflect the will of its people.
The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections was held on 6 November, with polling taking place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voter turnout stood at 60.13 per cent as of 5 p.m. The remaining seats will go to polls in the second phase on 11 November, while counting of votes and the declaration of results are scheduled for 14 November.
