Nishar Mohammed & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaypuram, Aug 11: Mr. Susai Raj, National Coordinator of the All India Kisan Congress, has accused the Narendra Modi-led government of large-scale “vote theft” in the last general elections, calling it a serious threat to Indian democracy. Speaking to the media during his visit to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr. Raj claimed that as many as 25 parliamentary seats were allegedly won through manipulation, and that similar irregularities may have occurred in Andaman.
He alleged that vote counts for certain communities in the islands had been mysteriously reduced or gone missing during the last polls. According to Mr. Raj, Congress’s internal review suggests that between 50 to 75 parliamentary seats across the country could have been affected by such malpractice.
“This is like a cancer eating away at democracy, and it was Mr. Rahul Gandhi who diagnosed and exposed this reality,” he said, sharply criticising the Election Commission for allegedly withholding and later deleting electoral data from its website, thus preventing public verification.
Mr. Raj stressed that the media must play an active role in protecting democracy by ensuring these issues reach the grassroots level. “If people are unaware of how their votes are being stolen, democracy itself will collapse,” he warned.
The Congress leader is visiting the islands to assess local issues and report back to the party’s high command. During his stay, he has reviewed the state of roads, healthcare facilities, and the ongoing electricity crisis, which residents say persists despite repeated protests and complaints.
Mr. Raj also highlighted education concerns, noting that reserved seats for island students in various courses under Pondicherry University — including veterinary and agricultural studies — have gone unused for the past five to six years. He vowed to work toward ensuring these opportunities reach eligible students.
