Ivan D’Souza, MLC, on Friday, said that the Udupi district Congress has planned to collect 1,11,100 signatures to buttress the ‘vote chor, gaddi chod’ campaign launched by its National leader Rahul Gandhi.

Mr. D’Souza said that people have been responding in a big way to the campaign of Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. To support the campaign, a signature campaign has also been launched in the Udupi district. The MLC said that 100 signatures will be collected from each of the 1,111 booths in the district, totalling 1,11,100 signatures.

The campaign has already begun and will continue for 15 days, he said. BJP came to power by stealing votes and through this campaign, people’s anger will be presented before the Election Commission of India, said Mr. D’Souza, adding that Mr. Gandhi has also produced evidence to substantiate his claims of election malpractice.

“The stealing of voting rights has been happening continuously. It is the duty of the Union government and the Election Commission to ensure that these allegations are thoroughly investigated,” he said. He urged the ruling dispensation to accept the suggestions and criticism of the Opposition party in the right spirit.

Mr. D’Souza said: “In a democracy, if the government fails to accept criticism and constructive suggestions with a positive mindset, it sends a wrong signal to the functioning of democracy.”

Udupi district Congress president Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, former Minister K. Jayaprakash Hegde, former MLA Gopal Poojary and others were present.