Rahul Gandhi Kicks Off 1,300-km ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar
Congress leaders’ yatra targets voter suppression claims.
Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi kicked off his ambitious 1,300-km ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ from BIADA Ground in Sasaram, Bihar, on Sunday, joined by RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan leaders. The 16-day march, set to conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1, will traverse over 20 districts as the Congress intensifies its campaign against alleged “vote chori” ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, just three months away.
The yatra, blending travel by foot and vehicle, mirrors Gandhi’s earlier Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai before the Lok Sabha polls. It aims to spotlight concerns over voter disenfranchisement, particularly targeting marginalized communities. In a Saturday post on X, Gandhi framed the initiative as a defense of democracy, stating, “We are coming among the people with the Voter Adhikar Yatra to protect the most basic democratic right – ‘one person, one vote.’ Join us in Bihar to save the Constitution.”
Congress leaders have accused the BJP of manipulating voter rolls through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, claiming it disproportionately affects Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, and economically disadvantaged groups. At a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, Congress media head Pawan Khera alleged a deliberate conspiracy to undermine voting rights, warning that such actions could extend to denying access to government welfare schemes like free food and housing. “The Election Commission cannot become a compartment of the BJP’s ‘double engine’ government,” Khera asserted, emphasizing the yatra’s role in safeguarding democratic principles.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra to Stop Vote Theft
The yatra’s route will cover key districts including Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East and West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chapra, and Ara. Gandhi is also scheduled to address a public gathering at Ramesh Chowk in Aurangabad later today, rallying support for the cause.
Khera hailed the yatra as a pivotal moment, stating, “Whenever Rahul Gandhi ji embarks on a yatra, it turns a new page in India’s democracy. The Voter Adhikar Yatra will be a historic milestone.” As the Mahagathbandhan coalition gears up for the polls, the march underscores their strategy to mobilize voters and challenge the BJP’s dominance by highlighting issues of electoral fairness and constitutional integrity.
Also Read: Congress Launches ‘Laapata Vote’ Video to Expose Alleged Fraud
