Congress Leaders Criticize BJP Over Voter Roll Manipulations

In a recent address, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of unethical practices in voter roll revisions, claiming they target opposition voters. He expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court for its directive on transparency in the electoral process. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the BJP for undermining citizens' rights, asserting that true independence remains elusive under their governance. Both leaders emphasize the importance of safeguarding democracy and constitutional rights in India. Read more to discover their full statements and implications for the upcoming elections.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 15, 2025, 18:19 IST

Congress President's Allegations Against BJP

On Friday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of resorting to unethical tactics to maintain its grip on power.

He highlighted the recent voter roll revisions in Bihar, asserting that the process was manipulated to systematically eliminate opposition voters, even claiming that living individuals were being incorrectly marked as deceased.

Kharge expressed concerns regarding the Election Commission's lack of transparency, particularly its failure to reveal the criteria for removing names from the voter lists.

Nonetheless, he expressed gratitude towards the Supreme Court, which had instructed the election authority to release a detailed list of approximately 6.5 million voters whose names were removed from Bihar's draft electoral rolls.

Earlier that day, Kharge raised the national flag at the Congress party's new headquarters in New Delhi, emphasizing the party's campaign against alleged electoral fraud, which he described as a fight to “protect democracy,” as reported by a Media House.

“This is not merely about winning elections; it’s about safeguarding India’s democracy and upholding the Constitution,” Kharge conveyed to his party members on Friday.

He encouraged Congress activists to actively participate in verifying voter rolls at the grassroots level.

Mamata Banerjee's Critique of BJP Governance

India not truly free under BJP: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated on Thursday that India is not genuinely independent under the current BJP-led government, according to reports from a Media Channel.

Banerjee accused the BJP of infringing upon citizens' fundamental rights, including the right to vote and freedom of expression.

“Even after 78 years of Independence, the populace remains unfree under the oppressive rule of the BJP,” she remarked.

In a post on X, she noted that “Bengal and its people are facing hatred across various regions of the country.”

She further mentioned that the residents of Bengal, who have already endured hardships during the partition, are once again facing assaults on various grounds, with attempts being made to strip them of their constitutional rights under the pretext of updating the voter list.

The Trinamool Congress has consistently raised alarms regarding the detention of Bengali-speaking migrant workers across the nation, suspected of being Bangladeshis.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, police in several BJP-ruled states have detained Bengali-speaking individuals, primarily Muslims, demanding proof of their Indian citizenship.

Some individuals have been forcibly sent to Bangladesh after allegedly failing to establish their citizenship, while others mistakenly deported have returned to India after authorities confirmed their nationality.