Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to launch the ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar on Sunday, aiming to highlight concerns over the alleged erosion of citizens’ voting rights through the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in the state, a senior party official said on Saturday.
Former state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, speaking at a press conference, said Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is expected to remain in Bihar for about two weeks. The yatra will culminate with a grand rally in Patna on September 1.
“The yatra will begin from Sasaram tomorrow. All required permissions have been secured. This initiative will create momentum in favour of the INDIA bloc ahead of the assembly elections,” Singh said. The campaign is planned to cover 25 districts, with three designated breaks on August 20, 25, and 31.
At the launch in Sasaram, Gandhi is likely to be joined by Bihar Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav and other alliance partners, including members of three Left parties. The final rally in Patna will seek participation from leaders of like-minded parties.
Singh asserted that the decision to take to the streets was compelled by a lack of response from Parliament regarding this “sensitive issue.” He added, “The Election Commission’s conduct reminds us of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s warning that the Constitution faces threats from those who are either stupid or cunning.”
The Congress leader highlighted that while several parties, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, have expressed concerns over the deletion of lakhs of names from electoral rolls, the BJP and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) have remained silent. Singh suggested that public dissatisfaction with the current state government is high, signaling possible changes in the upcoming polls.
Addressing criticism from Union minister Giriraj Singh, Singh quipped that the minister privately shared concerns over the revision of electoral rolls, but publicly has to follow the party line.
In a related development, the RJD launched a two-and-a-half-minute song in Hindi and Bhojpuri celebrating Tejashwi Yadav’s role in the yatra, portraying him as a vigilant leader committed to safeguarding citizens’ voting rights and preserving the democratic spirit.
This yatra is being framed as a key mobilization effort ahead of Bihar’s assembly elections, with Gandhi and allies seeking to ensure the protection of voter rights across the state.