Rahul to Launch 16-Day ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar Amid Congress Push Against SIR

Swift Summary

• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to launch the Vote Adhikar Yatra in Bihar on August 17, 2025, addressing concerns over alleged irregularities in a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
• The yatra will cover 24 districts and nearly 60 Assembly constituencies, concluding with a public rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on September 1.
• Allegations include wrongful voter deletions and fake votes being cast as highlighted in Rahul Gandhi’s social media video, where he stated: “The theft of yoru vote is the theft of your rights, the theft of your identity!”
• congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal stated that the campaign aims to turn opposition to “vote chori” into a mass movement, asserting democracy should be defended at ground-level activism.
• Party President Mallikarjun Kharge urged citizens to raise their voices against vote tampering, claiming constitutional institutions were under undue influence by BJP-led forces.
• Congress announced related initiatives such as candlelight marches on August 14 across districts, rallies from August 22-September 7, and a nationwide signature campaign aiming for five crore signatures starting September 15.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Vote Adhikar yatra reflects increasing political mobilization ahead of Bihar’s Assembly elections later this year. While claims against alleged voter irregularities raise critical questions about electoral openness and accountability-key principles underpinning democracy-the tactic also seems aimed at energizing grassroots support for opposition parties under the INDIA alliance banner.With specific allegations involving deceased voters’ status in revision lists made by Rahul Gandhi, there could be demand for stronger oversight mechanisms within election commissions.

For Bihar’s electorate-traditionally swayed by multifaceted factors like caste dynamics or development indicators-the emphasis on “vote chori” might resonate amidst growing concerns about fair depiction. However, Congress’s larger goal appears twofold: fostering unity within its alliance while reinvigorating lost momentum among its base after prior electoral setbacks in State Assembly elections. The outcomes may indicate both logistical preparedness within party ranks and wider implications for India’s democratic machinery if such allegations gain further traction.

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