NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH, November 20 — Punjab Congress leaders submitted 26.85 lakh signatures to the party high command on Wednesday, marking the latest escalation in their state-wide campaign accusing the BJP of “vote-chori.” The documents were delivered to AICC general secretary KC Venugopal by Bhupesh Bhagel, PCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa.
After handing over the signatures, Bhagel said Punjab had mirrored the strong public sentiment seen in other states where the party has run similar campaigns. “The response has been exceptional everywhere, and Punjab alone has contributed about 27 lakh signatures,” he said.
Warring described the turnout as “phenomenal,” saying the numbers reflect the level of concern among ordinary citizens.
He added that the Congress’ youth and women’s wings played a key role in mobilising people over the past weeks. “This effort brought together every segment of our organisation,” he said.
Bajwa, asserting that Punjab would resist any alleged manipulation of the electoral system, said the state would not allow attempts to undermine democratic rights. “Punjab will definitely stop the BJP’s vote theft. I say this with full confidence,” he said.
The event was attended by Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Haryana president Rao Narendra Singh and general secretary in charge of Assam Bhanwar Jitendra Singh.
Congress leaders later said the party’s larger push against alleged electoral malpractice had been strengthened by earlier episodes documented elsewhere. They pointed to Rahul Gandhi’s detailed breakdown of voter-identity misuse uncovered in Karnataka, where he said single identities and false names were repeatedly used — evidence the party claims shows how vote manipulation can be orchestrated.
