'This is what we call vote chori': Congress fumes as double-engine set to sweep Bihar

PATNA: As the double-engine government inches towards a clear victory in Bihar, senior Congress leader and party observer for the state Ashok Gehlot expressed sharp disappointment over the 2025 election trends, alleging widespread misuse of money and a failure of election oversight.“Bihar results are disappointing, there is no doubt about it. The kind of atmosphere I saw there — women were given?10,000 each; it was being given even when the election campaign was ongoing. The EC remained a mute spectator. Why did it not stop this? It should have, but it didn’t,” Gehlot said, adding that the results validate Rahul Gandhi’s allegation of “vote chori.”"This means that what Rahul Gandhi said for Vote Chori, this is what Vote Chori is," he said.

Gehlot further alleged that fair elections were compromised due to rigging, booth capturing and mass distribution of cash, claiming the Election Commission “colluded with the ruling party” by not acting against violations.

“Money is being misused these days. In Maharashtra, crores of rupees were given to candidates. Congress and RJD don’t have money. So, a threat looms over democracy,” he said. While accepting that the NDA will win and form the government, Gehlot insisted the country “needs Congress ideology.”

Bihar’s most intense election in yearsThe 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections have delivered one of the state’s most dramatic political chapters in recent times.Voter turnout hit historic highs, led by unprecedented participation from women, and a mix of hyperlocal factors played a defining role in shaping the mandate.Early trends on Friday signalled significant gains for the NDA in several Muslim-dominated seats.

Initial data indicates the alliance is on track to secure at least 16 such constituencies.Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) appears to be the biggest gainer within the bloc, projected to win around eight more seats than in 2020. Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV) is also leading in six seats with substantial Muslim populations.In contrast, the Mahagathbandhan has struggled to convert its campaign momentum into seats, despite aggressively pitching employment promises and projecting a new CM face.According to early figures, the RJD is losing at least seven Muslim-dominated seats it had won in 2020, while the Congress is trailing in four.In the previous assembly polls, RJD had won 18 such seats and Congress six.NDA maintains clear lead across the stateAcross Bihar, the NDA maintained a strong sweep early in the day, crossing the majority mark comfortably. Both BJP and JD(U) delivered solid numbers, while the Mahagathbandhan trailed significantly.The RJD, despite the alliance’s overall deficit, continues to remain among the top individual performers on several seats.Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj is yet to make a visible dent, with its vote share in many seats remaining marginal and insufficient to alter close contests.Counting under tight supervisionCounting is being overseen by 243 Returning Officers and an equal number of Election Commission-appointed observers. Over 18,000 counting agents representing various candidates are stationed at centres, where entry is strictly restricted to pass-holders and mobile phones are banned inside counting halls.More than 7 crore voters participated in the election, held in two phases on November 6 and 11, deciding the fate of both the ruling NDA and the Mahagathbandhan.