The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has formally launched the nationwide ‘Vote Chor Gaddi Chor’ signature campaign in Pasighat, East Siang district, joining a movement spearheaded by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. The campaign is aimed at drawing attention to alleged electoral malpractice and pressing the Election Commission of India (ECI) for greater transparency in the electoral process. The campaign was inaugurated on Monday in Ward No. 5 of Pasighat Municipal Council under the Pasighat Smart City initiative. APCC President Bosiram Siram led the programme in the presence of party councillors, grassroots leaders, and District Congress Committee (DCC) office bearers. Siram announced that the Congress intends to gather five crore signatures from across India, which will later be submitted to the President of India and the ECI. The party believes this will send a strong message about the need for reforms in electoral practices. “This campaign is not just about collecting signatures; it is a people’s movement to protect democracy. Each signature reflects the determination of citizens that their votes cannot be stolen, their future cannot be auctioned, and their democracy cannot be hijacked,” Siram told the gathering.
Taking aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Siram alleged that systematic “vote theft” has become a recurring issue, aided by the misuse of the Election Commission’s authority. He reminded the public that the Congress has historically stood at the forefront of safeguarding democratic principles, beginning with the freedom struggle and continuing through present-day battles against corruption and manipulation. The signature drive, which began nationwide in August with torchlight marches, has now reached Arunachal Pradesh through rallies, street campaigns, and public meetings. In the coming weeks, Congress workers will take the movement door-to-door, covering towns, villages, and remote areas. The APCC leadership has appealed to students, farmers, women, workers, and youth to participate, calling the drive a “shield of democracy” meant to resist authoritarian tendencies.
Alongside mobilization, the APCC has also outlined a set of reforms it wants the Election Commission to adopt. These include:
Voting machines that are fully readable with clear voter rolls and photographs.
Public release of voter list deletions and additions well in advance of elections.
Creation of an accessible grievance redressal mechanism for citizens.
A fixed cut-off date for voter list changes to prevent last-minute alterations.
Strict prosecution of officials and agents found guilty of voter suppression.
Release of digital voter rolls to facilitate independent audits by citizens and parties.
