Updated on: Nov 09, 2025

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a direct attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, targeting the opposition MP’s repeated allegations of “vote chori” during the ongoing Bihar assembly elections. Speaking at a poll rally in Arwal, Shah accused Gandhi of raising the issue because “names of infiltrators have been deleted from the voters’ list,” and took a jibe at Gandhi’s electoral campaign, suggesting that even if he were to take a yatra from Bihar to Italy, the central government would not yield on the matter.

“Rahul Gandhi is talking about ‘vote chori’ because the names of infiltrators have been deleted from the voters’ list. He can take out a yatra from Bihar to Italy, but we won’t allow infiltrators to remain here,” Shah said, using the opportunity to portray the BJP as vigilant against illegal entries and electoral manipulation.

Shah also questioned Gandhi’s approach, asking why he had not filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) if he believed votes were being stolen. The home minister’s remarks were aimed at undermining Gandhi’s credibility, implying that his campaign was more rhetorical than actionable.

In addition to addressing Gandhi, Shah took a swipe at the CPI(ML) Liberation, a party aligned with the INDIA bloc, warning that any leniency toward left-wing insurgent elements could destabilise the state. “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, we have been able to weed out the menace of Naxalism. But if even a little chance is given to these red flag wallahs, the state will again be in throes of the Left insurgency that Bihar had suffered in the past,” he asserted, highlighting security concerns and linking leftist parties to historical instability in Bihar.

The remarks come amid the culmination of the Bihar assembly poll campaign, with voting for the final phase scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, and results set to be declared on November 14. Shah’s comments appear to be a part of the BJP’s last-minute push to consolidate voter confidence and counter opposition narratives.

Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” allegations have been a consistent theme during the Bihar elections. The Congress MP has repeatedly claimed that votes are being stolen to facilitate BJP victories. During the campaign, Gandhi highlighted incidents of alleged “duplicate, fake, and bulk” voting, including a widely circulated example involving a Brazilian model. Gandhi claimed that her name had been entered multiple times in the Haryana electoral roll under aliases such as Seema and Sweety, among others, presenting it as part of his broader accusation that the Election Commission was allegedly working at the behest of the ruling BJP to manipulate outcomes.

The BJP, including leaders like Shah, has dismissed Gandhi’s claims as distractions aimed at shifting focus from governance and development issues to sensational allegations at a politically sensitive time. Shah’s address in Arwal sought to counter Gandhi’s narrative by framing the BJP as committed to protecting the integrity of the voter list and ensuring that only legitimate citizens participate in elections.

Shah’s comments also underscore a wider strategy of the BJP to portray opposition criticism as exaggerated or misdirected, especially in the context of law-and-order and national security. By linking Gandhi’s allegations to “infiltrators,” Shah appealed to concerns about illegal migration and the safeguarding of electoral processes, framing the BJP as the guardian of both democracy and internal security.

The ongoing political discourse reflects a high-stakes electoral environment in Bihar, where both national and regional parties are vying to secure influence in a state historically marked by intense political competition and social complexity. Shah’s rhetoric also sought to contrast the BJP’s administrative vigilance with what he portrayed as the opposition’s rhetorical posturing, reinforcing a narrative of decisive governance versus symbolic politics.

As the Bihar polls enter their final phase, the debate over voter integrity and alleged irregularities is likely to remain a focal point of campaign messaging from all sides. Shah’s “Bihar to Italy” dig at Rahul Gandhi captures the combative tenor of contemporary Indian electoral politics, where personal jabs and policy arguments often intersect, shaping public perception in the run-up to key voting dates.

With the election schedule nearing conclusion, the BJP is leveraging high-profile rallies and statements by senior leaders like Shah to consolidate support, while the Congress continues to emphasize alleged electoral malpractices to energize its base. Observers note that both strategies aim to sway undecided voters, particularly young and first-time voters, by framing narratives around integrity, governance, and political accountability.

In sum, Amit Shah’s statements on Sunday serve as both a rebuttal to Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” claims and a reaffirmation of the BJP’s broader electoral messaging. By characterizing Gandhi’s campaign as focusing on deleted names of infiltrators and questioning his formal engagement with the ECI, Shah positioned the BJP as vigilant, decisive, and committed to lawful governance, contrasting it with what he portrayed as the Congress leader’s symbolic and performative political actions. The Bihar electorate will weigh these narratives as it heads to the polls for the final phase of voting.