The Pilgrimage of Pretence
By Sanjeev Oak
The Congress’ so-called Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar is less about safeguarding democracy and more a performance of political pretence. With daily allegations against the Election Commission, opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, and repeated attempts to mislead the electorate, Rahul Gandhi once again appears to be taking the road of “Bharat Ttodo” rather than “Bharat Jodo.”
“Every time they lose, the blame is shifted from party organisation to the electoral process itself.”
Faith in Democracy, Not Doubt
For over seventy years, ordinary Indian voters have preserved their right to vote, changed governments, and held those in power accountable. While elections have swung from one party to another, the people’s trust in the process has remained constant. It is in this context that Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks are seen as weakening democracy itself.
By alleging that votes are being “stolen” and that the Election Commission is biased, Gandhi has not only sought to mask his party’s failures but has, in effect, questioned the legitimacy of the world’s largest democratic process. The Commission has firmly rebutted these charges, stressing that Indian elections are fully transparent, legally bound, and under judicial scrutiny—praised globally for their credibility.
Yet, leaders like Rahul Gandhi continue to cast doubt. Such rhetoric, critics argue, confuses citizens and hands ammunition to forces abroad eager to malign India.
Old Habits, New Accusations
Rahul Gandhi’s claims show little grounding in fact. It has long been Congress’ practice to pin electoral defeats not on organisational weaknesses but on the process itself. After 2014, 2019 and again in 2024, the refrain was the same: EVMs are faulty, the Election Commission is biased.
The contradiction is glaring. Where Congress wins, the same EVMs are considered sound; where it loses, they are suddenly flawed. The party has never addressed this inconsistency. To use phrases like “vote theft,” critics argue, is not just to question a machine but to belittle the mandate of the Indian voter.
“Every ballot cast is the voice of the people. To dismiss it as stolen is to insult the people themselves.”
From Bharat Jodo to Bharat Ttodo
Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra once claimed to unite diverse communities. In practice, it produced provocative speeches, anti-government rhetoric and, in several places, social discord. Wherever the yatra went, tensions flared. Instead of uniting, critics say it divided.
Even within his own party, the question arises: has Rahul Gandhi upheld inner-party democracy? For decades, Congress has been accused of privileging dynastic politics, suppressing dissent, and silencing leaders who challenge the high command. Before preaching democracy to the nation, should Gandhi not introspect within his own house?
The Commission Pushes Back
The Election Commission has taken serious note of Gandhi’s remarks, calling them “baseless and anti-democratic.” The Supreme Court too has repeatedly upheld the integrity of EVMs. In 2019, over 20 opposition parties filed petitions against the system—only for the Court to dismiss them.
Meanwhile, the Commission has expanded transparency through technology: VVPAT machines, digital voter rolls, helplines and real-time monitoring. The purpose of these reforms has been simple—to strengthen voter trust. To dismiss such institutional progress with off-hand allegations, critics say, is irresponsible politics.
A Comparative Lens
Around the world, electoral disputes are common. Even in the United States, one of the oldest democracies, the chaos of delayed counts and disputed results has been witnessed. By contrast, India completes vote-counting for the world’s largest electorate in a matter of hours. Western observers have lauded this achievement.
Rahul Gandhi, however, appears unmoved. Instead of drawing lessons from defeats, consolidating organisation or revising policies, his party continues to externalise blame. The danger, critics argue, is that constant claims of “vote theft” may discourage citizens from voting at all, striking at the very heart of democracy.
“India’s true strength lies in the faith its people place in the ballot. To erode that faith is to erode democracy itself.”
The Yatra in Bihar
Rahul Gandhi’s voter rights yatra began in Bihar this week, just two months before Assembly elections. Planned as a 16-day march across 20 districts covering 1,300 km, it will culminate in a grand rally in Patna on September 1, alongside RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
But the question remains: is this truly about voter rights, or about masking political insecurities? India’s electorate has always proven to be the ultimate guardian of democracy—capable of throwing out governments, demanding accountability, and charting new directions. To question the very legitimacy of their verdict is, in essence, to question democracy itself.
What the Congress calls a defence of democracy, critics describe bluntly: a political spectacle in the guise of a yatra. In the end, it may be remembered not as a march for voter rights, but as a pilgrimage of pretence.