Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has downplayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Manipur, saying that while it is welcome, it is “no big deal” given the long-standing unrest in the state. He emphasized that the main issue facing the country is “vote chori” (vote theft), alleging that elections in states like Haryana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have been manipulated.
Rahul Gandhi’s comments came outside Junagadh after arriving by plane, where he spoke to local party leaders and media. He accused the Election Commission of being complicit in unfair practices and said voter-list irregularities are being raised by people across India. He declared that slogans of “vote chor” are resonating widely among citizens.
Modi is set to visit Manipur for the first time since ethnic violence broke out there in May 2023, meeting displaced communities and launching development projects worth several thousand crores. Gandhi’s remarks, however, indicate skepticism about the effectiveness of such visits unless larger systemic issues—especially allegations of election integrity—are addressed.
