Margao: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing them of orchestrating “vote theft.” Speaking at the culmination of the Congress party’s 27-day ‘Goy Rakhonn Yatra’ (Save Goa Campaign) in South Goa on Sunday, Gandhi asserted that the ruling dispensation and the election commission would eventually face justice for their alleged actions.
Addressing a large public gathering after walking two kilometres with party workers, Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, claiming they actively shield the CEC. “The entire country knows that CEC Gyanesh Kumar implements ‘vote chori’ and Amit Shah and PM Modi back him,” Gandhi stated.
He further claimed that the central leadership and the election chief are growing anxious over the opposition’s pushback. “There is a man named Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi; he cannot sleep at night. He gets no rest, and neither do Modi-ji or Amit Shah. They know that sooner or later, the Congress party will demand answers and ensure justice,” he added.
Framing the opposition as the guardians of democracy, Gandhi challenged the BJP leadership over his ongoing legal battles. He pointed out that while he faces over 45 defamation lawsuits filed by individuals associated with the BJP, no case has been registered against him specifically for his persistent allegations of electoral manipulation. “By stealing votes, they have attacked the Constitution, and we will not accept this. They cannot escape from us,” Gandhi declared to the crowd.
The rally in Margao marked the end of the grassroots mobilization campaign which commenced on September 22. Led by senior Congress leaders, the march covered all 40 Assembly constituencies across the state. The campaign was designed to strengthen the party’s presence ahead of the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.
Beyond national issues, Gandhi leveled severe allegations against the Goa state government. He accused the local administration of systemic corruption, environmental degradation, and destroying the state’s employment framework. Calling the state government a “model” of corruption that other states could study, Gandhi stressed that the upcoming elections will be a definitive battle to protect Goa’s land rights, cultural identity, and youth employment.