Cong's Supriya Shrinate shares video claiming 'vote chori'; top Bihar poll officer hits back
New Delhi (PTI) Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared a video in which a journalist has claimed that a person he met in Bihar had voted twice, evoking a sharp response from the state's top poll officer who asked her to provide details and warned of legal action against anyone spreading fake news.
Shrinate shared the video on X in which a journalist stated that he met a BJP worker in the party's office who voted at two places.
The chief electoral officer (CEO) of Bihar, in a post responding to her on X, said, "Please provide the voter's name, EPIC number, booth number, and assembly constituency number mentioned in the video so that an investigation can be conducted and action can be taken as per the law."
"Without any factual information, the above claim cannot be substantiated. Appropriate legal action will be taken against anyone spreading fake news," the CEO said.
Responding to the CEO's post, Shrinate said, "Sir @CEOBihar, please give these empty threats to someone else. The video is from a reporter, ask him for any information you need. What's the point of remaining an ostrich?"
"And if you've finally woken up from your Kumbhakarna-like slumber, please investigate these gentlemen," Shrinate said.
Other Congress leaders also raised their "vote chori" (vote theft) pitch and rallied behind Rahul Gandhi for taking up the issue.
Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said it has become a fashion to blame Gandhi after every poll defeat.
"These were the same people who were praising Rahul Ji after Lok Sabha elections. Now the whole blame is being put on him. There was no dearth of efforts made by him. For 15 days he travelled across Bihar during Vote Adhikar Yatra. During the poll campaign also, he campaigned in the entire state," Shukla said.
"Persuaded JMM to withdraw its candidates, made Mukesh Sahney agree to be part of the alliance. Despite his age, Kharge Ji campaigned. Venugopal ji was there every now and then," he said.
Shukla claimed that the opposition had to fight "open support" of the Election Commission to the ruling party, brazen use of money to influence voters, and then the government machinery.
"We will have to devise something new otherwise democracy will not survive," he said.
In a post in Hindi on X, Shrinate said, "If you believe the Bihar elections were fair and Rahul Gandhi is responsible for this defeat, then it's pointless to talk to you."
"But if you are among those who are intelligent, this makes you question whether a 90% strike rate for the BJP and its allies is possible.
"If you also believe that this strike rate is impossible due to unemployment, inflation, migration, and the breakdown of law and order, then your skepticism is correct," she said.
"The Bihar elections have shattered the electoral system enshrined in the Constitution. BJP leaders and officials have openly cast more than one vote," she alleged.
"Despite the announcement of elections, the BJP-JDU government in Bihar deposited Rs 10,000 into the accounts of women, while the Election Commission remained a mute spectator, this is blatant bribery for votes," she said.
In the middle of the election, before voting began, people from Karnal were sent to Bihar by train wearing BJP scarves, she said.
Rahul Gandhi didn't just make allegations, but laid bare the entire truth before the nation with evidence, Shrinate said.
"The BJP has completely institutionalized vote theft. Therefore, arguments about the BJP's election management, or why the opposition doesn't fight like the BJP, are completely meaningless," she said.
"So rise up, raise your voice, this is the time to stand together. And remember one thing, no matter what lies the BJP spreads, the truth will surely be exposed. It is impossible to hide the truth, even if a soldier of truth stands alone," Shrinate said.
On Friday, Rahul Gandhi called the Bihar poll results surprising, and claimed that the election was not fair from the very beginning.
Gandhi also said the Congress and the INDIA bloc would conduct an in-depth review of the outcomes.
The Congress also claimed that the results, without a doubt, reflect "vote chori on a gigantic scale - masterminded by the prime minister, the home minister, the EC".
Gandhi's poll campaign against the BJP in Bihar revolved around his "vote chori" allegations.
पपीते का पत्ता = बिहार में वोट चोरी pic.twitter.com/7TTS3VSFpB
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) November 15, 2025
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BJP, Opposition in war of words after Constitution Amendment Bill defeat
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP and the Opposition on Saturday engaged in a war of words over the issue of the implementation of women's reservation in legislatures, with Union minister Kiren Rijiju saying the parties which stalled the Constitution Amendment Bill will face the wrath of women.
The Opposition accused the government of delaying implementation by linking it with delimitation and using it to serve its political interests.
While the BJP termed the development a “black day” and accused the Congress and other opposition parties of betraying women, the Congress and its allies asserted that the quota law, passed in 2023, should be implemented immediately and accused the government of playing politics over it.
Parliamentary Affairs Minsiter Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress of being anti-women, and said it will have to face their wrath across the country.
“They will have to face the anger of the women of the country. This is a black stain on the Congress and its allies, one that they will never be able to erase. This Bill was about giving historic representation to women—what objection could there have been?” he told reporters in the Parliament House complex.
"The opposition is celebrating after depriving women of their rights; women of the country will teach them a good lesson," he added.
Union minister Shobha Karandlaje targeted Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Opposition’s actions had undermined both women’s empowerment and regional representation.
“They have harmed south India as well, where seats could have increased by over 50 per cent. Women were supposed to get reservation, but they have been denied that opportunity. This has been done under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi,” she alleged.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of deceiving women and backtracking on their earlier stand. “They have betrayed the trust of women, and we will take this story of your deception to every citizen,” she said.
Swapna Verma, general Secretary, BJP (Madhya Pradesh) Mahila Morcha, said, “Congress and its INDI alliance have once again exposed their anti-women mindset. Despite the sincere appeal of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for collective, and non-partisan support, those driven by political obstinacy chose to defeat not just a Bill, but the aspirations of an entire nation.”
Opposition leaders accused the government of delaying implementation and using the issue for political gain in Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the opposition is not against women’s reservation, but has objected to its linkage with delimitation. “We are fully in support of women’s reservation and would have happily passed the Bill on Friday itself. Our objection was not to reservation, but to linking it with delimitation,” he said.
Tharoor said delimitation raises “fundamental questions” about the country’s future and cannot be rushed.
“This is a very important issue for India’s unity and democracy. It requires serious, wide-ranging discussion -- not something to be decided in a two-day session.
Alleging political motives, he added, “This was a political game, not about women. Women were being used to serve short-term political interests. If the government brings a new Bill in the Monsoon Session without linking it to delimitation, we will pass it.”
"There must be a serious discussion involving all parties and states, especially in light of future Census data and the framework for a new delimitation exercise.”
Congress MP K C Venugopal said there is no disagreement on women’s reservation and demanded its immediate implementation.
“Their agenda was to link delimitation with women’s reservation, which has failed. They wanted delimitation according to their convenience, like in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, by redrawing constituencies. That has failed.
“We demand that, without any delay, the 2023 women’s reservation law be implemented,” he said.
CPI(M) leader John Brittas alleged that the government’s strategy had been exposed in Parliament.
“The dubious and diabolical game plan of the government has fallen flat. They were using women as a shield to mislead the nation. If they have even an iota of sincerity, let them implement one-third reservation based on the present strength of legislatures,” he said.
“The opposition will jointly defeat any ulterior motives and designs of this government,” he added.
Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav questioned the legislative process and alleged political motives. “This historic Bill was already passed in 2023. Why was there a need to bring amendments again? Even after that, the earlier law was notified. So what was the need for discussion and voting?” he asked.
“The whole country knows this was done with elections in West Bengal in mind. When you knew you did not have a two-thirds majority, what was the point of bringing it? This shows there was a political angle, not genuine intent,” he said.
The Constitution Amendment Bill, which sought to operationalise women’s reservation and increase the strength of the Lok Sabha, was defeated in the Lower House on Friday as it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority.
While 298 members voted in favour of the Bill, 230 voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the Bill required 352 votes for passage.
According to the Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to operationalise the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. Seats were also to be increased in state and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
