DATE: November 5, 2025
PATNA: With campaigning for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections drawing to a close, the political atmosphere has become intensely charged, with the Opposition’s core message centering on an explosive allegation of “vote theft.”2 Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a fierce attack on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday, accusing the ruling alliance of attempting to subvert the democratic process to secure a victory.
Addressing a public rally in Valmiki Nagar, West Champaran, Ms. Gandhi claimed, “The NDA wants to form the government in Bihar through ‘vote chori’ (vote theft).”
The ‘Vote Chori’ Allegation: Targeting Electoral Rolls
The Congress leader detailed the basis of her allegation, specifically pointing to the systematic revision of electoral rolls. She claimed that the names of approximately 65 lakh people, including a large number of women, have been deleted from the voter lists through the Systematic Information Revision (SIR) process.
“They have put your vote in danger,” Ms. Gandhi told the crowd, stating that ‘vote chori’ is a “new way to suppress people” and a deliberate effort to undermine democracy. She urged the electorate to recognize their power and act against the alleged manipulation.
“Why are you silent? Why don’t you recognise your power—change them, drag their government out and make a new government,” she exhorted the voters.
Backing Rahul Gandhi’s ‘H-Files’
Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks came just hours after her brother and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, held a press conference in Delhi, releasing what he called the “H-Files.” This document alleged widespread and systematic voter irregularities in the recent Haryana Assembly elections, claiming the Congress’s victory was “converted into a BJP win” through planned manipulation.
Priyanka Gandhi strongly supported her brother’s claims, asserting that the pattern of alleged vote-theft was not an isolated incident but part of a larger, systemic plan that extends to Bihar.
NDA Fires Back: ‘HIRA’ vs. ‘Jungle Raj’
The ruling NDA, comprising the BJP and the JD(U), has vehemently denied the allegations and swiftly mounted a counter-offensive, dismissing the claims as a desperate attempt by a losing opposition to question democratic institutions.
- J.P. Nadda’s Development Pitch: BJP National President J.P. Nadda, while campaigning in Bettiah and Motihari, rejected the opposition’s rhetoric and presented the NDA’s vision for the state, stating that “NDA stands for HIRA” (Highway, Internet, Railway, and Airport). He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for moving Bihar from the “lantern era to the LED era” and warned the state against a return to the “jungle raj” of the RJD’s past rule.
- Questioning Institutions: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also slammed Rahul Gandhi’s “H-Files,” accusing the Congress leader of targeting “not just the BJP, but our country’s system and the credibility of its institutions,” calling it a “well-planned conspiracy.”
Campaigning Wraps Up Ahead of Phase One
The war of words has set the stage for a tense electoral battle. The high-octane campaign for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections ended on Tuesday, setting the stage for polling on Thursday, November 6, for 121 seats.
The second phase of voting for the remaining 122 seats will take place on November 11, with the results for all 243 seats scheduled to be declared on November 14, 2025.
The election has now turned into a direct clash between the NDA’s focus on development and stability under the double-engine government, and the Opposition’s charge of a compromised democracy, unemployment, and an urge to “chase them out of power.”
