The chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav, has become more critical of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, calling him 'thick-skinned'. During an Independence Day event, Yadav cited recent electoral and judicial rebukes of Gandhi to bolster his assertion that the Congress leader is insensitive to criticism.
Yadav specifically cited two instances: the Election Commission's denial of Gandhi's 'vote chori' (vote theft) claims and the Supreme Court's recent censure of Gandhi for claiming that India had given up 2,000 square kilometres of territory to China. According to Yadav, Gandhi's actions, such as his past 'Chowkidar chor hai' (The watchman is a thief) statement, demonstrate a consistent pattern of attacking institutions despite facing consequences from the judiciary.
The Chief Minister expressed his frustration with Gandhi's continued accusations, saying, "He repeatedly puts institutions in the dock. Despite being punished by the Supreme Court for statements like 'Chowkidar chor hai', he did not change his language and attitude." Yadav also questioned the origin of Gandhi's 'vote chori' campaign.
These comments followed an interview with a national media outlet a day earlier, where Yadav had accused Gandhi of being an 'urban Naxal.'
Also Read: Youth Cong put up 'Vote Chori' banners outside EC's office
Yadav also defended India's democratic framework, highlighting the strength of the Election Commission. "The world’s largest democracy is strong because of the Election Commission. The Election Commission has passed every test," he stated. He suggested that Gandhi's allegations serve to undermine public trust in key institutions rather than promote transparency.
The public feud is part of a larger conflict stemming from Rahul Gandhi's ongoing "vote chori" campaign, in which he has accused the Election Commission and the BJP of electoral malpractice. The poll body has publicly rebuked these claims.
On August 14, the Election Commission dismissed the phrase 'vote chori' as a 'dirty phrase' that fuels misleading narratives. The commission emphasised that India has upheld the "one person, one vote" principle since 1951–1952. Instead of making generalisations that, in its opinion, 'colour all the electors of India as 'chor' without any proof', Gandhi was urged to submit a written affidavit supporting his allegations.
Also Read: Tharoor joins ‘vote chori’ protest, urges poll body to clarify
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