Opposition MPs Don ‘Minta Devi 124 Not Out’ T-Shirts in Parliament Protest Over Alleged Bihar Voter Fraud
The protest targeted alleged irregularities in the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) voter list revision in Bihar, ahead of the state’s upcoming assembly elections.
NEW DELHI- In a striking display of political protest, MPs from the opposition INDIA bloc, including Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sonia Gandhi, staged a demonstration at the Parliament complex on Tuesday, wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with the name and photograph of “Minta Devi” and the slogan “124 Not Out” on the back.
The protest targeted alleged irregularities in the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) voter list revision in Bihar, ahead of the state’s upcoming assembly elections. Minta Devi, a woman from Bihar’s Siwan district, became the focal point of the opposition’s campaign after being listed in the ECI’s draft voter roll as a 124-year-old first-time voter from the Daraundha Assembly seat under the Siwan Lok Sabha constituency.
Also Read- Jaya Bachchan’s Heated Reaction to Selfie Attempt Goes Viral
Her recorded birth date of July 15, 1900, raised eyebrows, as it would make her nine years older than the world’s oldest verified living person, Ethel Caterham (115 years old), according to BBC reports. The opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, cited Minta Devi’s case as evidence of “mega voter fraud” and manipulation in the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, accusing the poll body of colluding with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to disenfranchise voters.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore, speaking to reporters, called the inclusion of Minta Devi’s name “not just a clerical error, but proof of large-scale voter fraud.” He alleged that the ECI, under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, had become “a department of the BJP,” with the voter list riddled with fraudulent entries.
Rahul Gandhi echoed this sentiment, stating, “There are unlimited cases like that. Picture abhi baaki hai (There is more to come),” hinting at further revelations of electoral discrepancies. Congress leader Pawan Khera took a sarcastic jab on X, nominating Minta Devi for a Guinness World Record as “the youngest looking oldest human in India,” courtesy of the ECI’s “miracles.”
The protest, held near Parliament’s Makar Dwar, saw opposition MPs, including TMC’s Derek O’Brien, DMK’s TR Baalu, and NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, holding banners reading “Our Vote. Our Right. Our Fight” and “SIR – Silent Invisible Rigging.” The demonstration followed a dramatic march on Monday, where opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, were detained by police while attempting to reach the ECI’s office to submit complaints about the voter roll revision.
Also Read- Karnataka CEO Challenges Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Fraud Allegations, Demands Written Declaration
However, Minta Devi herself reacted sharply to the use of her name and image. Speaking to ANI in Siwan, she clarified that her actual birth date, as per her Aadhaar card, is July 15, 1990, making her 35 years old. She expressed frustration, stating, “Who are Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi to me? Who gave them the right to wear T-shirts featuring me? I want my details to be corrected.” Minta Devi also questioned why she was not receiving an old-age pension if the government considered her 124 years old, adding, “Whoever entered the details, did they do so with their eyes closed?”
An NDTV report revealed that Minta Devi had mistakenly written 1900 instead of 1990 on her voter registration form, an error that went uncorrected in the ECI’s draft roll despite the SIR’s aim to clean up voter lists. The ECI has not issued an official response to the specific allegation but maintains that the revision is necessary to remove ineligible voters, noting that 10,570 forms have been received to add names to the draft roll, which remains open for claims until September 1.
Also Read- Rahul Gandhi Alleges ‘Massive’ Voter Fraud, Accuses Election Commission of Collusion with BJP
The opposition’s T-shirt protest has intensified the political debate over electoral integrity in Bihar, with the INDIA bloc demanding a rollback of the SIR and a thorough investigation into alleged voter fraud. The controversy has disrupted Parliament’s Monsoon session, which began on July 21, with little business conducted amid repeated adjournments over the SIR issue and discussions on Operation Sindoor.
As Minta Devi’s name continues to dominate headlines, her case has become a symbol of the opposition’s broader fight against what they call “vote chori” (vote theft), while raising critical questions about the accuracy and transparency of India’s electoral processes. *Sources: Hindustan Times, The Tatva, Firstpost, ANI,
