New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday announced that the party is launching a direct fight against “vote chori” in Bihar through the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, emphasizing that the initiative aims to ensure a clean voters’ list across India.
Speaking on X, Gandhi described “vote chori” not merely as an election issue but as a “decisive battle” to protect democracy, the Constitution, and the principle of ‘one man, one vote’. “From 17th August, with the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, we are fighting vote theft from the soil of Bihar. This is a crucial fight for the people, the Constitution, and the sanctity of every vote,” he wrote.
Gandhi called on citizens, including youth, workers, and farmers, to join the mass movement, asserting, “This time, the defeat of vote thieves will mean the victory of the people and the Constitution.” He also shared a video montage of the yatra, including glimpses from his earlier Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra through Bihar.
The Congress, along with leaders of the INDIA bloc in Bihar, will commence the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ on August 17, aiming to mobilize people against electoral roll revisions and to make the battle against vote theft a mass movement. The yatra will conclude with a rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on September 1.
Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting with party general secretaries and heads of frontal organisations, outlining a roadmap to take the “vote chori” issue to the public. NSUI in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar explained the planned activities:
- August 14: ‘Loktantra Bachao Mashaal March’ in all district headquarters.
- August 22 – September 7: “Vote chor, gaddi chhorh” rallies in state capitals.
- September 15 – October 15: A signature campaign to protect voting rights and ensure public participation.
Last week, Gandhi cited 2024 Lok Sabha poll data alleging that over 1 lakh votes were “stolen” through manipulation in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment of Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka.
The opposition has also been protesting in Parliament against the revision of electoral rolls, claiming the exercise is intended to “disenfranchise voters” in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections later this year and demanding discussions in both Houses.
