Mumbai, Nov 1, 2026 12:54 IST — Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday rejected the opposition's allegations of vote chori, accusing the Congress party instead of committing Samvidhan chori, or the theft of the Constitution, during the Emergency, according to the Press Trust of India. Fadnavis alleged that Congress attempted to undermine democratic institutions and claimed that international forces and social media algorithms are currently being utilized to spread misinformation and destabilize the country.
Speaking at the Bharatiya Janata Party's Save Democracy march in Thane, organized in response to what he described as efforts to create anarchy, Fadnavis stated that those shouting about vote theft are the actual Constitution thieves. Referring to the 1975 Allahabad High Court ruling that invalidated then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's election, he noted that the Supreme Court granted only conditional relief at the time. He asserted that the Congress government subsequently enacted retrospective constitutional amendments to block the judiciary from reviewing the election.
Fadnavis claimed that the Congress administration under Indira Gandhi was the first to subvert the Constitution, the judiciary, and national democracy. Pointing to the 42nd Constitutional Amendment during the Emergency, he argued that the government systematically weakened the safeguards protecting fundamental rights. He added that these protections were later restored through subsequent amendments after the Janata Party came to power in 1977, ensuring the Prime Minister remained bound by the Constitution. Citing Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Fadnavis emphasized that fundamental rights are the core feature of the Constitution because they secure equality, social harmony, and justice for all citizens.
Furthermore, Fadnavis contended that the opposition is deeply concerned about the ongoing removal of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from local voter rolls. He vowed that authorities will persist in their efforts until every illegal infiltrator is excised from the lists, asserting that while Indian citizens possess the franchise, unlawful arrivals must not be permitted to vote.
Describing the BJP march as merely the starting point for an extended campaign, Fadnavis invoked the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to highlight Maharashtra's tradition of sacrifice. He affirmed that the ruling party and its supporters are ready for a sustained fight against forces attempting to generate chaos and pledged continued commitment toward building a developed nation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.