Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to lead a powerful charge against alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) with the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ kicking off in Bihar on August 17, aiming to safeguard democracy and ensure clean voter lists nationwide. Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, described the initiative as a “decisive battle” to protect the Constitution and the principle of ‘one man, one vote,’ urging citizens to join the mass movement.

In a post on X, Gandhi declared, “From Bihar’s soil, we are waging a direct fight against vote theft. This is not just an election issue—it’s about defending democracy.” The yatra, backed by the INDIA bloc, will traverse 24 of Bihar’s 38 districts, covering nearly 60 assembly seats, and conclude with a grand rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on September 1. A video shared by Gandhi highlighted visuals from his earlier Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, reinforcing his commitment to electoral integrity.

The Congress has escalated its campaign against alleged electoral fraud, following claims of over 1 lakh “stolen” votes in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The party alleges manipulations like duplicate voters and fake addresses, accusing the Election Commission (EC) of colluding with the BJP. On August 14, Congress will hold ‘Loktantra Bachao Mashaal Marches’ across district headquarters, followed by ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhorh’ rallies from August 22 to September 7, and a nationwide signature campaign from September 15 to October 15 to demand voter rights.

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Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar emphasized the party’s resolve, stating that the entire INDIA bloc, including allies like RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, is united in this fight. The opposition has also protested in Parliament, alleging that the EC’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar aims to disenfranchise voters ahead of the state’s assembly elections. The campaign, bolstered by a portal (votechori.in) and a call-in number, seeks to mobilize public support for transparent voter rolls.

As Bihar gears up for this high-stakes yatra, Gandhi’s initiative aims to galvanize the Congress and its allies, potentially reshaping the narrative around electoral integrity in the lead-up to the crucial polls.

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