Patna: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan leaders will hold a foot march here on Monday, marking the culmination of their Voter Adhikar Yatra that covered about 1300 km and passed through over 110 assembly constituencies in what was seen as a prelude to a high-octane assembly polls campaign in the state.
Gandhi, Yadav, CPI-ML’s Dipankar Bhattacharya and Vikassheel Insan Party’s Mukesh Sahani travelled together in an open jeep throughout the Yatra as they displayed unity and took the message of alleged “vote chori” to different corners of the state.
“Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhor” slogans reverberated as the Yatra navigated through 25 districts of the state with the leaders addressing gatherings daily at various points in which the messaging was unambiguous – alleging that “the Election Commission and the BJP are colluding to steal votes through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar”.
“The Voter Adhikar Yatra will conclude with a massive Yatra in Patna, from Gandhi Maidan to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Statue, Ambedkar Park, giving a fitting culmination to a Yatra that has touched millions,” Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal said on X.
“The people of Bihar have given unprecedented support to the Voter Adhikar Yatra embarked upon by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi ji, Ex-deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav ji and the entire Mahagathbandhan,” he said.
For a state that has seen historic deprivation and hardships, the threat of their one true power — the right to vote — being stolen was unimaginable, Venugopal said.
“The fear they had in their hearts needed comforting, and the Yatra came in as a ray of hope against the blatant destruction of democracy being orchestrated in the name of SIR,” he said.
Spanning 25 districts, visiting over 110 assembly constituencies and covering more than 1300 km, this Yatra has been a “milestone in Bihar’s rich history of people’s movements”, the Congress leader said.
“Respected leaders from across the country who believed in our cause joined and gave greater strength – including sitting CMs of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, as well as other senior leaders like Akhilesh ji and Priyanka Gandhi ji,” he said.
The Yatra had its share of controversy as well with a row erupting after a purported video showed a person using a Hindi expletive against Modi from a dais during the yatra in Darbhanga town, from where Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Vadra and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had left for Muzaffarpur on motorcycles last Wednesday.
Workers and leaders of the BJP and the Congress also clashed in Patna during a protest march taken out by the ruling party in protest against the alleged use of abusive language for Prime Minister Modi.
The Congress accused the BJP of “attacking” and “vandalising” its Sadaqat Ashram headquarters here.
On the last day of the third-leg of the Yatra on ahead of its conclusion in Patna, Rahul Gandhi asserted that his Voter Adhikar Yatra’ was a “revolution” that began in Bihar, aimed at ensuring “not one vote is stolen” in elections, but would spread out to the entire country.
The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha made the remarks addressing a rally in Arrah, the headquarters of Bhojpur district.
“Bihar is a land where revolutions have taken place. The response to the Voter Adhikar Yatra has proved that another revolution has begun from Bihar. In the days to come, this will engulf the whole country,” Gandhi had said.
Throughout the Yatra, Gandhi trained his guns at the Centre and alleged that Prime Minister Modi and the BJP-RSS serve the interests of the super rich.
“Remember, if your vote is stolen, you will be robbed of your future. Your right to vote has been bestowed upon you by the Constitution, which is the embodiment of the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar. We must protect it,” Gandhi’s message throughout the Yatra stated.
At many places, Gandhi, who has throughout donned his trademark white T-shirt and cargo pants, also made it a point to carry a “gamcha” around his neck, much like residents of the hinterland.
The yatra was undertaken in hybrid mode but mostly by vehicle. It started on August 17 from Sasaram and passed through Aurangabad, Gaya Ji, Nawada, Nalanda, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra and Ara.
