Kharge vows to continue ‘vote chori’ protests, challenges BJP to contest polls using ballot papers

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday challenged the BJP to dissolve Parliament and contest fresh elections using ballot papers if it was confident of its electoral performance as he vowed to continue protests against alleged ldquovote chorirdquo vote theft across the country news agency PTI reportedThe Congress has planned a mega rally in Delhi on November 1 to protest alleged electoral irregularities including the largescale deletion and exclusion of votersrsquo names from electoral rolls particularly those belonging to minority communities and economically and socially weaker sectionsVIDEO Delhi Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge says Our protest is continued because of this vote chori and what CEC Gyanesh Kumar has done mischief in Commission against that we are doing it and we will continue and all parties are supporting Even tomorrow there is a mock parliament and on 1st November we are having this rally and people are coming from throughout country We will fight because in democracy unless you fight people will not be awakened So thats why we are doing all that When asked about MLC election results in Karnataka Kharge says Ballot paper still we ask It doesnt mean that we should leave because they are winning Once upon a time they won only two Parliament seats Sometimes it happens that doesnt mean that party has no hold That ego should not be there in BJP that they have done very well If that is the case let them dissolve the Parliament and go on ballot paper Congress MallikarjunKharge Full video available on PTI Videos httpstcobIyFWTfmBdmdash Press Trust of India PTI_News October 29 2026ldquoProtests will continue against the vote chori and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar What he has done is mischief in the Commission All parties are supporting the protestrdquo Kharge told reportersHe said the Congress would continue its campaign to raise awareness about alleged electoral irregularities with a mock Parliament scheduled for Friday and a rally planned around November 1Asked whether the CJP would participate in the rally Kharge replied in the negativeldquoWell fight because in democracy unless you fight people will not be awakenedrdquo he saidKharge reiterates demand for ballot papersAsked about the Karnataka Legislative Council election results in which the BJP and JDS won all four seats despite voting being conducted using ballot papers Kharge said the Congress would continue to demand ballot papers for future electionsldquoIt doesnt mean that we should leave our demand because they BJP are winning MLC polls Once upon a time they won only two Parliament seats when elections were held using ballot papers Did he Prime Minister Narendra Modi say thatrdquo he saidKharge also cautioned the BJP against becoming complacent over the results questioning the significance of different victory marginsldquoSometimes it happens when the BJP wins ballot paperbased elections It does not mean that the party BJP has no hold on Election Commissionrdquo he said adding that the BJP should not develop an ego over its electoral performanceldquoOkay if that is the case let them dissolve the Parliament and go for elections on ballot paperrdquo he saidIn the elections for four vacant Karnataka Legislative Council seats the JDS won the Bengaluru Teachers constituency while the BJP retained the NorthEast Teachers SouthEast Graduates and West Graduates constituenciesWith PTI inputs