The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) has stepped up its political campaign with the launch of a ‘Vote Chori’ Awareness Programme at Ward No. 03, highlighting concerns about alleged electoral malpractice and urging residents to safeguard their democratic rights.
The campaign was spearheaded by Ward 03 Councillor Ramzan and City Congress President Mohd. Zubair, who led party workers in a door-to-door drive across the ward. Senior leaders, including ANTCC President Rangalal Halder and Chairman of the Campaign Committee TSG Bhasker, joined the initiative alongside Congress cadres, departmental heads, and members of affiliated organisations.
According to ANTCC leaders, the campaign was designed to connect directly with voters at the grassroots level, ensuring that residents are made aware of what the party describes as systematic electoral irregularities committed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Leaders emphasised the need for people to remain vigilant during elections to protect the sanctity of their votes.
The door-to-door interactions became a central feature of the programme. Congress members reached out to households across Ward No. 03, distributing pamphlets and explaining the concept of “Vote Chori”, a term the party is using to describe alleged practices of vote manipulation, coercion, and tampering. Residents were urged not only to exercise their franchise responsibly but also to actively monitor polling processes in their localities.
In a symbolic gesture, campaigners placed ‘Stop Vote Chori’ stickers on every house in the ward. According to party workers, the stickers are intended to act as both a reminder and a pledge, signalling that residents stand united against electoral malpractice. The visual messaging, leaders said, was aimed at building a sense of solidarity among voters ahead of future elections.
ANTCC President Rangalal Halder underscored the importance of public participation in ensuring free and fair elections. He stated that electoral democracy can only function when citizens remain aware of their rights and resist attempts to undermine the process. He urged residents to treat their vote as a “sacred instrument of change” and resist any attempt at its dilution.
Campaign Chairman TSG Bhasker added that the awareness drive would not remain confined to Ward No. 03. He announced that the programme would be replicated across other wards in the city and eventually extended to different parts of the islands. According to him, ANTCC’s broader strategy is to create a mass movement that ensures transparency and accountability in every electoral process.
Observers noted that the campaign reflects a growing trend among opposition parties to frame electoral issues as matters of public participation and vigilance rather than purely political contests. By reaching out directly to households, ANTCC appears to be attempting to rebuild grassroots connections at a time when voter trust has become a crucial political currency.
For many residents, the “Vote Chori” campaign provided an opportunity to engage directly with party leaders and share their own concerns about electoral processes. Party cadres reported that several households expressed support for the initiative and pledged to remain active during elections.
The programme concluded with assurances from ANTCC leaders that they would continue to champion the cause of electoral fairness. The leaders reiterated that Congress would stand firmly against any malpractice that threatened to erode democratic institutions in the islands.
As the campaign expands, the placement of “Stop Vote Chori” stickers is expected to become a visible symbol of resistance in neighbourhoods across the territory. For ANTCC, the drive marks both a political statement and a public mobilisation effort, with party leaders positioning themselves as defenders of democratic integrity.
With the “Vote Chori” campaign now formally launched, ANTCC has signalled that electoral accountability will remain a central theme in its political narrative in the months ahead.
