Dr. Shashi Kumar Singh, Ph.d., D.litt.

The foundation of democracy rests on the ‘right of the voter’ and in the world’s largest democracy like India, the principle of ‘one person, one vote’ is the basis of constitutional values. In recent years, opposition parties, especially the Congress and its leader and Leader of the Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi, have levelled serious allegations of collusion between the Narendra Modi government and the Election Commission of India over alleged irregularities in the voter list and the issue of ‘vote theft’. Shri Rahul Gandhi has described it as not just a political issue but a fight to protect the Constitution and Democracy. In this context, his ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar has taken the form of a mass movement, which has not only heated up the politics of Bihar but has also become a major topic of discussion at the national level. This yatra, which began on August 17, 2025, lasted for 16 days and covered a distance of more than 1,300 km in 23 districts. It is important to know the detailed account of this yatra, its political and social significance, quotes from the speeches of Shri Rahul Gandhi and the response of the central government.

Fight against vote theft:

Shri Rahul Gandhi has claimed that the Narendra Modi government and the Election Commission are manipulating the voter list, especially targeting voters from Dalit, underprivileged, and minority communities. At a press conference in New Delhi on August 7, 2025, Shri Rahul Gandhi presented data from Mahadevpura Assembly constituency of Bengaluru Central Parliamentary constituency in Karnataka, which he termed as an “atom bomb”. He said, “We have 100 per cent solid proof that the Election Commission and the BJP are stealing votes together.”

Main objectives of the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’:

Manipulation of Voter List: Shri Rahul Gandhi and the India Alliance claimed that the names of voters from SC/ST, minority, and poor communities are being deleted from the list in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He claimed theft of more than 1 lakh votes in one assembly constituency of Karnataka.

Questioning the impartiality of Election Commission: Shri Rahul Gandhi said that ECI has become a “branch of BJP” and has failed to ensure clean voter list. He questioned ECI’s refusal to provide videography and transparent data.

Violation of Constitutional Rights: He termed it a fight to protect the principle of ‘one person, one vote’ and the Constitution in which the rights of Dalit, backward, and minority communities are being snatched away.

Election Commission’s response: The Election Commission dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated” in a press conference on August 17, 2025. The ECI said that SIR is a routine process and there is nothing wrong in it. The Commission asked Shri Rahul Gandhi to file a formal complaint, which he declined, saying - “I have already taken an oath to the Constitution.” Modi Government’s nervousness: BJP leaders held a conference and the Central Government is under heavy pressure, Union Minister Anurag Thakur, while responding to the allegations of Shri Rahul Gandhi, said that the opposition is unnecessarily creating a ruckus and trying to weaken the democratic institutions by questioning the impartiality of the ECI. Shri Thakur said, “Shri Rahul Gandhi and his colleagues are making such baseless allegations out of fear of defeat.” This statement clearly indicates that the Central Government and BJP are uncomfortable with this yatra and its impact.

‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar:

Shri Rahul Gandhi launched the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ from Sasaram (Rohtas), Bihar on August 17, 2025. The Yatra lasted for 16 days and concluded with a massive rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on September 1, 2025. The aim of this massive Yatra was to raise public awareness against alleged irregularities in the voter list and vote theft. Leaders of the All-India Alliance, particularly RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, also participated in this massive Yatra. The Yatra covered 50 assembly constituencies and 23 districts of Bihar, reaching Patna.

The Yatra started from Sasaram and reached Patna via Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnia, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chapra, Ara. During the Yatra, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi raised local issues like deletion of votes of Dalits, backward classes and Muslim community, irregularities in voter list, against exploitation of them, allegations of partiality on Election Commission, plight of migrant labourers, lack of education, problems of weaver community, damage caused by floods or flood management, Makhana cultivation and problems related to it and discussed these problems.

Shri Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ received unprecedented public support in Bihar, especially among the youth and women who participated enthusiastically and conveyed their message to Shri Rahul Gandhi. Lakhs of people from Bihar participated in this massive yatra, and slogans like “Save Democracy” and “Vote chor, gaddi chhor” were raised. Not only the public but also the leaders of the All-India Alliance participated enthusiastically in this yatra, with Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra supporting Shri Rahul Gandhi. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel, RJD leader Shri Tejaswi Yadav, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Shri M.K. Stalin, Telangana Chief Minister Shri Revanth Reddy, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren, Karnataka Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah, Samajwadi Party leader Shri Akhilesh Yadav, CPI leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI General Secretary D. Raja and M.S. Baby, Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule, Trinamool Congress leaders Yusuf Pathan and Lalitesh Tripathi, and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also joined the march and expressed their support. Leaders of the Opposition, along with the All-India Alliance and the Congress, participated enthusiastically.

The role of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee was significant and commendable in making this historic yatra successful. The office bearers of AICC and Bihar PCC actively participated in ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ some names are Shri Krishna Allavaru, In-charge Bihar Congress, Shri Rajesh Kumar, President, Bihar Congress, Shri Tariq Anwar MP and Member Congress Working Committee, Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh, MP, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Khan Leader, Congress Legislature Party, Dr. Madan Mohan Jha Leader, Congress Legislative Council Party, Shri Devendra Yadav and other senior leaders.

Political and Social Impact

The Yatra has created a political stir in Bihar. Experts believe that this Yatra is not only a preparation for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 but also a strategy for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Mahagathbandhan Unity: The participation of RJD, CPI (ML), VIP and other allies in the Yatra strengthened the opposition unity.

Modi Government’s Nervousness: Anurag Thakur’s press conference and statements of BJP leaders indicate that the Central Government is under tremendous pressure due to this Yatra. Pressure on Election Commission: Shri Rahul Gandhi’s allegations forced the ECI to respond, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.

Social impact: The Yatra created awareness among Dalit, backward, and minority communities, especially in Seemanchal and Magadh regions.

Shri Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ took the form of a mass movement in Bihar, bringing the issue of voter rights and protection of democracy to the center. The participation of lakhs of people and the unity of India Alliance made this Yatra historic. The allegations against the central government and the Election Commission have heated up the political atmosphere. This Yatra can play an important role in strengthening the strategy of the opposition in Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 and future national elections. This fight and Shri Rahul Gandhi with his boundless energy has taken us to a point where the wall of lies is about to collapse and the faces of those who are doing harm to the country will be exposed.

(The author is an AICC member and General Secretary cum Organization In-charge in the Vichar Vibhag