Sasaram (Bihar): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Election Commission of “stealing” elections in collusion with the BJP and vowed that the INDIA bloc would not allow any “conspiracy” to rig the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls through voter list manipulations under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Launching his 1,300 km Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, which will cover over 20 districts in 16 days, Gandhi alleged that votes were being systematically added and deleted to benefit the BJP. “In the entire country, Assembly and Lok Sabha polls are being stolen. Their last conspiracy is to manipulate Bihar’s voter lists. We will not let this theft happen,” he said, adding that the poor have only the power of the ballot and will not allow it to be snatched away.
The Congress leader claimed his recent press conference had exposed “vote chori,” yet he was asked to submit an affidavit, while BJP leaders faced no such demand despite their statements. “Everyone now knows what the EC is doing and how it is carrying out this theft. This is a fight to save the Constitution,” he asserted.
Alleging that the BJP and RSS are working to “destroy” the Constitution, Gandhi cited Maharashtra as an example. “All surveys showed INDIA bloc leading, but after one crore voters were added, BJP swept the polls. In one assembly segment, over a lakh votes were stolen, and BJP won that seat,” he said.
The yatra was launched in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Bihar Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, and leaders from CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), and Vikassheel Insaan Party. The march will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1.
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “16 days, 20+ districts, 1,300+ km. We are coming among the people with the Voter Adhikar Yatra. This is a fight to protect the most basic democratic right – one person, one vote. Join us in Bihar to save the Constitution.”
The hybrid yatra, on foot and by vehicle, will travel through districts including Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East and West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chapra, and Ara.
