A controversy has erupted in Bihar as Minta Devi, a resident of Siwan district, publicly criticized Congress leaders for using her image in a protest against alleged voter list discrepancies. The uproar centers on claims that Minta Devi was listed as a 124-year-old voter, sparking a heated debate over electoral integrity and personal privacy.
Minta Devi’s Outrage Over Unauthorized Use of Her Image
On Tuesday, opposition leaders, including Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi and Gaurav Gogoi, staged a high-profile protest at Parliament’s Makar Dwar, wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Minta Devi’s name and photograph, alongside the slogan “124 Not Out.”
The demonstration aimed to spotlight alleged inaccuracies in the Election Commission of India’s draft voter list, with Congress claiming Minta Devi was wrongly registered as a 124-year-old voter—nine years older than the world’s oldest living person.
The protest, joined by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, TMC’s Derek O’Brien, DMK’s TR Baalu, and NCP(SP)’s Supriya Sule, sought accountability from the Election Commission.
ALSO READ: Who is Minta Devi? ‘124-year-old’ voter featured on Oppn t-shirts
Minta Devi, however, was incensed by the unauthorized use of her identity. Speaking to news agency ANI, she expressed her frustration, saying, “Who are they (Opposition MPs) to me? Who is Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi to me? Who gave them the right to wear t-shirts featuring me?”
She further questioned the motives behind the protest, stating, “Why are they becoming my well-wisher over my age?…This should not be done, I do not want this…I want my details to be corrected.”
Call for Voter List Correction Amid Electoral Controversy
Minta Devi, a homemaker from Bihar’s Siwan district, acknowledged the error in her voter registration, clarifying that her Aadhaar card lists her date of birth as July 15, 1990, making her 35 years old.
She lambasted the authorities responsible for the mistake, asking, “Whoever entered the details, did they do so with their eyes closed?…If I am 124-years-old in the eyes of Govt, why are they not giving me old age pension?”
“Who is Priyanka to print my face on a T-shirt and wear it to oppose me?”
Bihar voter Minta Devi slams PriVa after finding CONg used her photo without her consent in CONg “voter chori” campaign
BJP should have played smart & got her to sue CONg
— Sameer (@BesuraTaansane) August 13, 2025
Her demand for immediate correction of her voter details underscores broader concerns about the accuracy of the Election Commission’s records.
The controversy, amplified by Rahul Gandhi’s presentation on alleged voter fraud, has fueled accusations of systemic issues in Bihar’s voter list revision process.
As Minta Devi’s case gains traction, it raises critical questions about electoral transparency and the ethical use of individuals’ identities in political campaigns.
