New Delhi/ Patna, Sept. 25 -- Ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, the Congress linked the alleged Vote Chori (theft) with economy, social justice, and national security as the party highlighted Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's "broken promises and betrayals". It added that "in his 20 years as the CM of Bihar, Nitish Kumar has done too little to empower the people of Bihar". Setting the tone of the first meeting of the (Extended) Congress Working Committee in Bihar, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said the "conspiracy" to remove millions of voters" will also affect social benefits of Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes, minorities and other marginalised groups. He reminded that the Congress government had given 69% reservation in Tamil Nadu 30 years ago but PM Narendra Modi failed to give constitutional protection to the proposed 65% reservation in Bihar, in a bid to position the Congress as the champions of social justice. In his short speech to the extended Congress Working Committee meeting, Rahul Gandhi said "We have caught them (Election Commission and the BJP) by their neck" on "vote theft". Gandhi also told the party that "We have to take the vote chori campaign to every household." On the Bihar election, Gandhi maintained that the Congress has taken upon itself to give a credible campaign and the aim is to revive the party and bring the INDIA bloc government in Bihar. Gandhi emphasised the urgent need for a nationwide caste census and the removal of the 50% reservation cap to ensure equitable participation for marginalised groups. "Even today in this country, there are EBCs, backward classes, dalits, tribals and minorities, all of whom don't receive the participation they deserve," he said. Gandhi also told the CWC that apart from deletion or addition of votes, it has come to his notice that poll booths are being changed to confuse voters. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal announced that the party has started a campaign to collect 5 crore signatures against the "vote theft" and send it to the EC. People of Bihar do not want religious polarisation, but progress and employment, the party said. The event saw members of the INDIA bloc commit to a transformative 10-point programme aimed at uplifting marginalised communities. The Congress president positioned the upcoming state poll as a pivotal moment for the nation. "The upcoming Bihar elections hold a lot of significance not only for Bihar but for the entire country, as they will mark the beginning of the countdown to the end of the corrupt Modi government at the Centre," Kharge said. Coming down heavily on the special intensive revision, the Congress resolution said, "Their aim is to disenfranchise the poor, workers, backward classes and minorities."...