In a sharp attack on the BJP-led Government, Congress leaders today accused the ruling party of undermining democratic institutions, manipulating elections, and endangering the very foundations of the Indian Constitution. Speaking at a state-level rally themed “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” in Dimapur, senior Congress leaders — including AICC Incharge of Nagaland and MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, AICC Secretary Christopher Tilak, and NPCC President S. Supongmeren Jamir — urged citizens to remain vigilant in safeguarding their constitutional rights, particularly the right to vote.
Member of Parliament and AICC Incharge of Nagaland, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Government at the Centre, accusing it of undermining democratic institutions, manipulating elections, and misusing central agencies to weaken the opposition.
Addressing a state-level rally, Ulaka said India was entering a “critical phase” and cautioned that unless the Constitution was safeguarded, the rights of states, including those under Article 371(A) in Nagaland, would be at risk.
Reflecting on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ulaka recalled that the BJP’s campaign slogan “Abki Baar, 400 Paar” had triggered fears that the party would attempt to amend the Constitution if it crossed the 400-seat mark. While exit polls projected 350–400 seats, the BJP managed around 240, later increasing its tally to 293 through post-poll alliances. He highlighted subsequent electoral losses in Haryana and Maharashtra as further evidence of declining public trust.
The Congress MP expressed concerns over electoral discrepancies, including missing votes, denial of CCTV footage from polling stations, and the deletion of nearly 65,000 voter names, which he claimed disproportionately affected Dalits, tribals, and opposition supporters. He alleged that the BJP was exploiting phased elections to mobilize voters across states in order to manipulate outcomes.
Ulaka accused the ruling party of using agencies such as the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department to harass political opponents. “Ninety-five percent of ED cases in the last decade were against opposition leaders, yet the conviction rate is only 1–2%,” he noted, citing the arrests of senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Pawan Khera, and KC Venugopal as examples.
He also criticized a recent bill mandating the removal of ministers jailed for 30 days, calling it a “political weapon.” Furthermore, he accused the BJP’s ideological parent, the RSS, of disrespecting the Constitution and national flag in earlier decades.
Framing the current political struggle as both a political and mass movement, Ulaka said Rahul Gandhi’s padyatra in Bihar had triggered a “national awakening” and claimed Gandhi’s popularity had surpassed that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He announced a nationwide signature campaign across panchayats, booths, and villages to protect the Constitution, asserting that “the fight is on the streets.” Ulaka expressed confidence that Rahul Gandhi would become Prime Minister in 2029, with Nagaland playing a “big contributor” in the Congress-led 2028 initiative.
The MP also condemned the alleged mistreatment of journalists, citing an incident in Nagaland where a journalist was insulted, and called upon the media to resist government overreach. “The country is at a turning point,” he declared. “Our leaders are fighting tooth and nail against Modi’s government, and I am certain that change is coming.”
Tilak Calls for Mobilization to Protect Voting Rights
Also speaking at the rally, Christopher Tilak, AICC Secretary in charge of Nagaland, underscored the importance of protecting the Constitution and the right to vote from erosion under the present regime.
Tracing the history of the Constitution, Tilak recalled Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision and India’s adoption of universal adult franchise at independence, when even some developed nations had not extended voting rights to women. He credited Nehru, Shastri, and Indira Gandhi for strengthening democratic institutions but alleged that since 2014, the BJP had systematically weakened them through demonetization, GST, and electoral bonds.
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“There is now a new story of vote theft,” Tilak alleged, adding that Rahul Gandhi’s demonstrations had exposed corruption within electoral institutions. He said youth and women were becoming increasingly aware of threats to their voting rights, making this the right time to connect constitutional principles with grassroots movements.
Calling the Congress a mass-based party that has defended democracy for over 140 years, Tilak urged workers to organize small group meetings to explain “how the BJP government is messing with the Constitution.”
NPCC President Supongmeren Emphasizes Unity
Lok Sabha MP and NPCC President S. Supongmeren Jamir also addressed the rally, urging people and party workers to remain vigilant in protecting the right to vote, which he described as the “soul of democracy.”
Jamir warned that the present government was undermining this fundamental right by denying Parliament the chance to debate electoral irregularities and by weakening the Election Commission. He said that if voting rights were tampered with, “our collective voice is lost.”
On the internal front, Jamir emphasized unity within the Nagaland Congress, calling upon youth leaders to work in close coordination with seniors. “We should never neglect the contributions of our former leaders, ex-ministers, ex-MLAs, and senior party workers. Without them, we cannot move forward,” he said.
Thanking the AICC leadership and Rahul Gandhi for their guidance, Jamir expressed optimism that the Nagaland Congress would “rise again from past setbacks” and play a meaningful role in national politics.
He called upon Congress workers to spread the message that the party is not merely regional but a national force defending the rights of all communities while safeguarding India’s diverse culture and traditions. “Congress is the party of the people,” he concluded. “Let us work together — seniors and youth — to revive our strength, protect our rights, and rebuild the party in Nagaland.”
