‘Expiry date near’: Rahul says PM Modi, Shah & CEC will ‘face justice’ for ‘vote chori’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses rally in Goa

NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar would face justice over alleged “vote chori”. Rahul also declared that the BJP’s “expiry date” was approaching.Addressing a public meeting in Margao, Goa, Rahul accused the BJP leadership of alleged electoral malpractice, corruption and targeting student protesters, while urging voters to give the Congress a full majority in the 2027 Assembly elections.“Gyanesh Kumar implements the theft of votes, Amit Shah operationalizes it, and Narendra Modi orchestrates the entire plan from behind the scenes,” Rahul said.He questioned why no defamation case had been filed against him specifically over his allegations of vote theft. “I am facing over 45 defamation cases—cases filed by Amit Shah, by Narendra Modi, and so on. Despite these 45 cases, I continue to state at every opportunity that Narendra Modi steals votes. Yet, no case has been filed against me specifically for this claim,” he said.Calling the Congress a protector of the Constitution, Gandhi said the three leaders would be held accountable.“Gyanesh Kumar knows that these people cannot escape accountability at the hands of the Congress party because we are the guardians and protectors of the Constitution. Safeguarding the Constitution is our duty,” he said.“Let me assure all Congress workers: PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar will face justice and will pay the price for what they have done.”Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, Gandhi asked, “Where has his 56-inch chest gone? Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but have you seen Modi ji’s face lately? Where has his 56-inch chest gone? These days, Modi ji cannot even stand before us. He and Amit Shah know that the Congress party has taken them on and cornered them.”Turning to student protests in Delhi, Gandhi said, “Look at what is happening in Delhi today. Pellet guns are being fired at students because they are raising concerns about vote theft, employment and the rising cost of education.”

In Goa, Gandhi alleged widespread corruption, saying the state had been turned into a “model” for corruption. He urged voters to back the Congress, citing concerns over land conversion, alleged land grabbing, unemployment and the daily humiliation faced by residents.“The injustices you are suffering, the humiliation you face every day, and the way your land is being taken away from you and sold off — if you want to put a stop to all this, you must give the Congress party a full majority,” he said.Gandhi joined the Congress’s ‘Goy Rakhon Yatra’ in Margao, walking around two kilometres with party workers and leaders. The 27-day campaign, which began on September 22 and covered all 40 Assembly constituencies, concluded on Sunday.The Congress has positioned the yatra as a campaign to safeguard Goa’s land, environment, cultural heritage and identity.