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New Delhi: Terming the alleged “vote chori” by the ruling BJP a “do-or-die” moment for the party, the Congress on Tuesday unveiled an aggressive nationwide agitation plan, framing the fight as a struggle for the very survival of India’s democracy. The announcement came after a high-level strategy meeting of the party’s top brass in New Delhi, just days before Independence Day.

In a move carrying both symbolic and electoral weight, the party entrusted Kanhaiya Kumar — its firebrand youth leader from Bihar — to make the public announcement. Political observers see this as a calculated choice: Bihar, headed for assembly elections, is a key battleground where Congress, in alliance with RJD, aims to wrest power from the JDU-BJP coalition.

Speaking to reporters after the hour-long closed-door meeting attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, general secretary KC Venugopal, and key office-bearers, Kumar alleged that the Election Commission had compromised its independence and “colluded” with the BJP to manipulate outcomes. “This is not just political malpractice — this is an attack on the Constitution,” he said, vowing that the party would take the battle to the streets.

Protest Calendar Announced

• August 14 (Midnight): “Mashaal processions” in all state headquarters, symbolising the torch of democracy under threat.

• August 22 – September 7: “Vote Chor, Ghadi Chod” processions across the country.

• September 15 – October 15: Nationwide signature campaign against electoral malpractice.

Kanhaiya Kumar emphasised that the movement would go beyond partisan politics. “This is an ideological battle, not just an electoral fight,” he said. “The right to ‘one person, one vote’ is being snatched away. The Congress fought for India’s independence; now we must fight to preserve its democracy.”

The rhetoric was sharp and emotive, with repeated references to the freedom struggle. Rahul Gandhi, in recent public statements, has alleged that “democracy has been strangled” and constitutional safeguards hollowed out under the Modi government. Tuesday’s announcement echoed those charges, tying the fight against “vote theft” to the larger Opposition INDIA bloc’s pledge to “save the soul of India.”

By deploying Kumar — a leader with strong appeal among young voters and experience in street mobilisations — the Congress appears to be signalling an intent to blend ideological fervour with mass outreach. With the Independence Day backdrop and a poll-bound Bihar in focus, the party’s upcoming protests are poised to test whether it can transform allegations of electoral manipulation into a resonant public cause.