Will political change finally address the woes of Bengal's jute workers?

With the jute industry in crisis and elections approaching, workers and their families face dire economic and living conditions.

TalkingPoint

Jute Mill — Jute workers believe politicians don't care about the workers or their problems. Photo Credit: The Daily Star

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Florence Naa Oyoe Quartey

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India’s political troubles explained

Rahul Gandhi calls out the ECI for “vote theft,” but the Commission demands proof or apology.

On August 7, 2025, Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of enabling “vote theft” during the 2024 general elections. He pointed to alleged irregularities in voter rolls in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura constituency, citing thousands of duplicate entries, invalid addresses, bulk registrations, and faulty photographs. Gandhi labelled the claims as the result of six months of research by his team and demanded transparency, including access to digital voter lists and CCTV footage.

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