The All-India Congress Committee has objected to comments made by YSR Congress party chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy against Rahul Gandhi on the vote theft issue and said Jagan was opposing Rahul Gandhi as he had no guts to talk against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
AICC in-charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs and Congress MP Manickam Tagore released a video in this regard, stating that it was inappropriate to belittle Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against electoral fraud.
Tagore clarified that Rahul’s struggle was not for personal gain but aimed at safeguarding democracy.
He asserted that the Congress was not afraid of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He alleged that Jagan had already “surrendered” to Modi.
He accused Amit Shah of orchestrating voter fraud in 30–40 parliamentary constituencies during last year’s Lok Sabha elections, with the cooperation of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and other officials.
Tagore alleged manipulation of EVMs at these polling stations and announced that Rahul Gandhi would soon embark on a padayatra in Bihar as part of the anti-vote-theft movement.
“It is Jagan’s responsibility to express at least minimal support for Rahul Gandhi, instead of fabricating stories about cordial ties with Chandrababu Naidu,” he said.
Mocking Jagan’s stance, Tagore said that if Modi and Chandrababu formed one team, then Amit Shah and Jagan formed another - adding that Pawan Kalyan was also part of the same camp.
He challenged Jagan to join AP Congress chief Y.S. Sharmila’s march in Vijayawada on August 14 if he truly had the courage to oppose Modi and Amit Shah over vote theft.
Telangana PCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud also criticised Jagan for sarcastic remarks suggesting that Rahul Gandhi remained silent on AP elections because of Revanth Reddy’s “hotline” with Chandrababu.
He said he could not understand Jagan’s mindset after losing the elections, noting that Chandrababu had already joined the NDA to help sustain the 18th Lok Sabha and ensure Modi’s government remained in power.
He added that when election irregularities occur, leaders should blame the EC, Modi, and Amit Shah - not Rahul Gandhi - and called it surprising that Jagan spoke of integrity while targeting Rahul.
He concluded that Jagan should join Rahul in the Vijayawada protest instead of misleading people in the Telugu states, and noted that people wanted Rahul as Prime Minister.