New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with INDIA bloc leaders in Bihar, will launch a ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ across the state from August 17. The initiative is aimed at opposing the revision of electoral rolls and transforming the “battle against vote chori” (vote theft) into a mass movement, the party announced on Wednesday.
Congress general secretary (organisation) K. C. Venugopal, in a post on X, said the fight to protect democracy will be taken to the streets.
“Starting August 17, LoP Rahul Gandhi ji and INDIA parties will embark on a massive Vote Adhikar Yatra across Bihar — against the dangerous SIR exercise, and to make the battle against vote chori a mass movement!” he wrote.
Venugopal said he met INDIA bloc leaders in Sasaram on Wednesday to review preparations, mobilisation, and coordination for the yatra. The march will culminate on September 1 with a rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan.
On Tuesday, Congress had described “vote chori” as a “do-or-die” issue and unveiled a roadmap to take its allegations to the public through a series of activities, starting with Loktantra Bachao Mashaal Marches on the evening of August 14.
The plan was finalised after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge met party general secretaries, state in-charges, and heads of frontal organisations. Briefing the media, AICC in-charge of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) Kanhaiya Kumar outlined three upcoming programmes:
- August 14: Loktantra Bachao Mashaal March at all district headquarters.
- August 22 – September 7: “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhorh” rallies in all state capitals.
- September 15 – October 15: A signature campaign to safeguard voting rights and encourage public participation.
Kumar stressed that the entire INDIA bloc stands united on the issue.
Last Thursday, Rahul Gandhi cited data from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, alleging that over one lakh votes were “stolen” in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment of the Bangalore Central seat through five types of manipulation.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have been protesting in both Houses of Parliament against the electoral roll revision, accusing the Election Commission of trying to “disenfranchise voters” in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections later this year. They have demanded a discussion on the matter in Parliament.
