Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Thursday staged a massive torch (mashal) rally in the capital, alleging large-scale “vote theft” and calling it an attack on democracy. The rally began at Rajmahal Square and concluded at Master Canteen Square, with party members urging people to be vigilant about their voting rights.
Speaking at the event, OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das claimed that the BJP had “grabbed power” by stealing votes. “Vote theft is nothing less than the murder of democracy. The right to vote is fundamental in a democratic nation, yet the rights of over 12.5 crore voters in Bihar are being snatched away,” Das alleged.
He further said that poor labourers from Bihar, who work in various parts of the country, cannot be forcibly removed from the state. “It is wrong to label them as residents of other states and strike their names off the voter list. The Election Commission must take note and ensure that the names of every eligible voter are individually recorded,” he added.
Senior Congress leaders Suresh Routray and Jayadev Jena, along with members of various District Congress Committees, also participated in the rally.
