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| Embarrassment: Bihar woman retracts voter list claim made to Rahul, says she was told what to say | | |  Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 19: A woman from Bihar’s Chapla village, who recently alleged in front of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that her family’s names were missing from the voter list, has now retracted her statement, claiming she was instructed to make the allegation during the high-profile interaction.
The woman, identified as Ranju Devi, said she and others were told to stick to a script and avoid speaking the truth in front of the Congress MP during his recent outreach visit to the village. “We’re simple village folk. We said what we were told,” Ranju Devi said, in a statement that has sparked widespread debate and criticism.
According to her, local handlers involved in organising Rahul Gandhi’s visit had briefed her beforehand and asked her not to contradict the narrative they wanted to present.
She claimed that despite her family's names being on the electoral roll, she was told to say otherwise in order to highlight alleged voter disenfranchisement.
The incident has since stirred political controversy, with the BJP and its supporters accusing the Congress party of manufacturing grievances to malign democratic institutions such as the Election Commission of India (ECI) and to target the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through orchestrated misinformation.
Political analysts have pointed out that the incident appears to be part of a wider attempt to craft an anti-ECI and anti-BJP narrative ahead of the upcoming elections. They argue that presenting manipulated or misleading testimonies during such visits could undermine public trust and distort ground realities for political mileage.
A senior BJP leader called the development “deeply troubling” and said it reflects the Congress party’s willingness to “stoop to any level to mislead voters and defame the democratic process.”
Social media has also erupted with reactions, with several users demanding accountability and calling for an independent inquiry into whether villagers were pressured or coached into making false statements.
As of now, the Congress party has not issued any official response to Ranju Devi’s retraction. The silence has only added fuel to the fire, prompting further criticism and suspicion over the party’s outreach practices.
The incident has also prompted broader questions about the ethical boundaries of political campaigns and the need for fact-checking during public interactions with citizens. Observers warn that politicising the issue of voter disenfranchisement through such tactics could weaken genuine efforts to ensure electoral transparency and inclusiveness.
As the political fallout continues, focus has now shifted to whether any action will be taken against those who allegedly coerced or misled the villagers, and how parties will address growing concerns over credibility and campaign conduct. |
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