Daijiworld Media Network - Margao

Margao, Aug 16: Stepping up its offensive over alleged voter fraud, the Congress party in Goa has vowed to take its campaign to every village and ward in the state to expose bogus votes and prevent what it calls the “theft of the people’s mandate.”

On Thursday, Congress leaders led a protest march from the South Goa District Congress office in Margao, demanding accountability from the Election Commission of India (ECI) and a crackdown on what they allege are widespread irregularities in the electoral rolls.

The march saw participation from prominent leaders, including South Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes, CWC member Girish Chodankar, District Chief Savio D’Silva, and senior party functionaries M K Sheikh, Everson Vales, Savio Coutinho, Moreno Rebello, and Chirag Naik, among others.

“BJP Won Through Bogus Voting”: Congress MP

Speaking to the media, MP Viriato Fernandes accused the BJP of manipulating electoral rolls and rigging elections in states like Haryana and Maharashtra.

“Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have already exposed how bogus votes helped the BJP secure power in 2024,” Fernandes said, alleging that massive irregularities in the voter rolls were deliberately overlooked.

He also questioned Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remark that BJP would remain in power until 2025, saying:

“That confidence clearly stems from election fraud and manipulation.”

“Why Is BJP Defending the EC?”: Congress Questions Silence

The Congress leaders slammed the ruling party for what they called unwavering support of the Election Commission, asking why the BJP was so eager to shield the ECI from criticism.

“We demand to know why the BJP is going out of its way to protect the Election Commission in Goa,” Fernandes said. “If there’s nothing to hide, why the silence?”

Ground-Level Campaign to Begin

The Congress announced a statewide outreach campaign, which will mobilize party workers at grassroots levels — villages and wards — to verify voter lists, identify fake entries, and educate citizens about their voting rights.

“This is about defending democracy at its core. We will not rest until every bogus vote is exposed and action is taken against those responsible,” said Girish Chodankar.

The protest marks a new phase of electoral vigilance by the Congress in Goa, aligning with the party’s broader national campaign demanding electoral transparency and accountability.