Rahul: BJP, EC Plot to Steal Bihar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a fiery attack on the Election Commission and the BJP, accusing them of orchestrating a "conspiracy" to manipulate Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking at the launch of his 1,300 km 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Sasaram, Bihar, Gandhi vowed that the INDIA bloc would thwart attempts to "steal" the state’s polls.

"The entire country knows the Election Commission is colluding with the BJP to rig elections," Gandhi charged, addressing a massive gathering at BIADA Ground. He alleged widespread voter list tampering, citing Maharashtra’s assembly polls where 1 crore voters were added post-Lok Sabha elections, allegedly ensuring BJP victories. "In Bihar, they’re using SIR to delete and add voters to steal the polls. We won’t let this happen," he declared, emphasizing that the poor rely on their vote as their only power.

Gandhi highlighted inconsistencies in the Election Commission’s actions, noting that he was asked to submit an affidavit after exposing "vote chori" in a press conference, while BJP leaders faced no such demands for similar claims. "I used their own data, yet they demand proof from me," he said, accusing the poll body of bias. He claimed the Congress had evidence of over one lakh votes being "stolen" in a single Karnataka assembly segment in 2024, leading to a BJP Lok Sabha win.

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The yatra, spanning over 20 districts including Aurangabad, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Patna, aims to mobilize public support to protect democratic rights. Set to conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1, the hybrid foot-and-vehicle campaign echoes Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. "This is a fight to save the Constitution, which the BJP and RSS are trying to erase," Gandhi asserted, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi governs for a handful of billionaires while undermining the poor’s voting power.

The event saw prominent INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, and Bihar’s opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, uniting against what they call a systematic assault on democracy. Kharge echoed Gandhi’s concerns, accusing the BJP of undermining the Constitution, while Yadav criticized the Nitish Kumar government for mimicking opposition promises to mislead voters. CPI(ML) Liberation’s Dipankar Bhattacharya and CPI(M)’s Subhashini Ali highlighted the disproportionate exclusion of women from voter lists, urging them to join the yatra.

Gandhi also accused the BJP of manipulating elections nationwide, citing Assam and West Bengal alongside Maharashtra. "Wherever this theft happens, we will expose it," he said, promising to release detailed evidence of voter suppression. The INDIA bloc has demanded access to Election Commission video footage to substantiate their claims, but Gandhi noted the poll body’s refusal to comply.

As Bihar’s assembly polls loom three months away, the yatra aims to galvanize voters against electoral malpractice. "The people of Bihar will rise to protect their democratic rights," Gandhi said, urging citizens to join the fight for "one person, one vote." The coalition’s united front signals a fierce battle to safeguard the state’s electoral integrity.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Kicks Off 1,300-km ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar