Rahul Gandhi Launches Bihar Voter March

Download IPFS

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi began the “Vote Adhikar Yatra” on August 17, 2025, in Sasaram, Bihar. The 16-day campaign will cover more than 1,300 kilometers across over 20 districts and conclude with a rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on September 1.

The march is aimed at highlighting opposition concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties argue the revision process could lead to voter suppression by removing legitimate voters, particularly those from vulnerable communities. The Election Commission has firmly rejected these allegations, maintaining that the SIR is a transparent exercise designed to keep rolls accurate and credible.

The INDIA bloc, including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Left parties CPI, CPI(M), and CPI(ML), has joined Gandhi in the initiative. Yadav launched a campaign song and pledged collective efforts to “ensure no voter is excluded.” Congress officials stressed that the march is intended not only to challenge the electoral revision but also to mobilize support for the opposition alliance ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.

Former Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh confirmed that all necessary permissions were secured for the march. Party organizers have dispatched coordinators to manage logistics, with district teams working to coordinate events and security. The route includes key districts such as Munger, Gopalganj, Sitamarhi, Aurangabad, Gaya, Purnia, and Darbhanga, before culminating in Patna.

Public debate around the electoral roll revision has intensified in recent weeks. Civil society groups and opposition leaders have raised concerns that poor and minority voters may be disproportionately affected. Critics argue that the SIR process could inadvertently lead to disenfranchisement, while the Commission insists the update is a routine measure to strengthen democratic participation.

The march also reflects Gandhi’s strategy to build momentum through state-focused outreach. Unlike the earlier Bharat Jodo Yatra, which spanned multiple states, the Vote Adhikar Yatra is concentrated on Bihar’s electoral landscape. By holding rallies, roadshows, and public meetings, Gandhi and alliance leaders aim to frame the issue as a defense of the constitutional principle of “one person, one vote.”

As the march progresses, the opposition plans to use speeches, slogans, and social media campaigns to highlight what they describe as threats to democratic rights. The Congress has emphasized that voter participation is fundamental to the upcoming elections, and the yatra is being positioned as both a protest and a mobilization effort.

The campaign will conclude on September 1 in Patna, where the INDIA bloc is expected to stage a mass rally reinforcing its call for inclusive and fair voter rolls in Bihar.