New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders, including former chief ministers of five states, gathered at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s residence in New Delhi on Friday for a pre-Diwali get-together that reportedly also saw discussions on the party’s strategy to intensify its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities.
Rahul Gandhi hosted the gathering over tea at his residence at 5, Sunehri Bagh Road. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with several senior party leaders, attended the meeting. While participants described it as a festive occasion to exchange greetings, party sources indicated that the issue of alleged ‘vote chori’ and the party’s future campaign also figured in discussions.
Among those present were Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, Sachin Pilot, Kumari Selja and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Former chief ministers Bhupesh Baghel, Ashok Gehlot, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Harish Rawat and Digvijaya Singh also attended. Congress general secretaries, state in-charges, members of the Congress Working Committee and leaders from poll-bound states were among the invitees.
Congress Plans to Intensify ‘Vote Chori’ Campaign
According to party sources, the gathering provided an opportunity to discuss the next phase of the Congress campaign against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. The discussions reportedly followed the INDIA bloc’s ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ rally held at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
At the rally, opposition leaders alleged irregularities in voter lists, including the deletion of voters’ names, and demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. However, no official agenda was announced for Friday’s gathering.
Leaders Describe Event as Festive Get-Together
Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra said the programme was organised to celebrate the festive season and provide party leaders an opportunity to meet and exchange Diwali greetings.
Congress leader T.S. Singh Deo also described it as a gathering of the party family, noting that several leaders had met each other after months or even years. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan maintained that there was no specific political agenda and that the event was primarily an opportunity for senior leaders and grassroots representatives to interact.
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said Rahul Gandhi met leaders individually, with discussions covering personal matters as well as political and organisational issues.
Congress Questions Centre Over SIR
The issue of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls also drew criticism from Congress leaders. Dotasra questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s reported proposal to discuss SIR in Parliament, alleging that the opposition’s earlier demands for a discussion had not been accommodated.
T.S. Singh Deo alleged that names had been removed from electoral rolls through software-based processes without adequate verification. Congress MP Pawan Khera also said the country wanted the issue to be debated in Parliament.
Opposition Defends Ramlila Maidan Rally
Rajasthan Assembly Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully defended the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, describing it as successful and claiming that a large number of people from Rajasthan had participated.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism of the event, Jully maintained that the gathering had witnessed a substantial turnout and that video footage was available to support the claim.
Pawan Khera Raises Delhi Pollution Concerns
Congress MP Pawan Khera also expressed concern over worsening air pollution in Delhi-NCR despite the implementation of Stage III measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
He warned that conditions could deteriorate further without timely intervention, with children and elderly people facing the greatest health risks. Khera also questioned the handling of pollution during the previous Aam Aadmi Party government and the administration’s performance over the past two years.
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