Gandhi said the Yatra will be a people’s movement against disenfranchisement, stressing that “without the vote, citizens lose their voice and dignity.”
BY PC Bureau
August 17, 2025 – Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, today launched the 16-day, 1,300-km “Voter Adhikar Yatra” from Sasaram in Bihar’s Rohtas district, in the presence of INDIA bloc leaders and before a massive turnout of supporters.
The campaign, seen as a direct challenge to the BJP-led NDA ahead of the October-November Bihar Assembly elections, seeks to highlight alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls and to mobilize support for protecting the principle of “one person, one vote.”
The event began at BIADA Ground, where Rahul Gandhi was joined by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, and VIP chief Mukesh Sahani.
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A remodeled vehicle from Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra was unveiled as the campaign’s rath, symbolizing continuity of his people-centric outreach.
Rahul’s Attack on BJP and EC
Rahul Gandhi Kicks Off Voter Adhikar Yatra With Fiery Speech in Sasaram
Addressing thousands at BIADA Ground in Sasaram, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and the Election Commission of “systematically undermining democracy” by manipulating voter lists.
“The BJP and the Election Commission are stealing your votes. They are silencing the poor, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, and migrant workers,” he declared, alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process had led to the deletion of 65 lakh names, disproportionately from vulnerable communities.
“This is not just an election issue—it’s an attack on the soul of India’s democracy.”
ग़रीब की ताक़त है उसका वोट – यही उसका हक़, उसकी आवाज़, उसकी पहचान है।
आज वही ताक़त छीनी जा रही है – SIR के ज़रिए वोट चोरी की साज़िश चल रही है।
हम हर कीमत पर वोट चोरी रोकेंगे!#VoterAdhikarYatra pic.twitter.com/jsI1WnNqSz
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 17, 2025
Framing the Yatra as a movement to defend “one person, one vote,” Gandhi said the BJP’s governance benefits only a few billionaires.
“Modi and the NDA run this country for 5–6 rich men. You cast your vote, but it’s stolen, and your wealth is handed to them,” he claimed, urging the crowd to see the campaign as a fight to reclaim their democratic power.
“Your vote is your weapon. Don’t let anyone take it away.”
Gandhi invoked Bihar’s historic role as the cradle of democracy, citing the ancient republic of Vaishali.
“Thousands of years ago, Bihar gave the world the idea of democracy. Today, it is Bihar’s responsibility to save it,” he said, calling on youth, farmers, and workers to join what he termed a “people’s movement” to secure free and fair elections.
Taking direct aim at Prime Minister Modi, Gandhi alleged the government was weakening constitutional institutions to cling to power.
“Modi ji talks about ‘Amrit Kaal,’ but for the poor it’s an age of injustice. Migrant workers return home to find their names missing from voter rolls. Is this justice?” he asked, drawing loud cheers.
Outlining the Yatra’s goals, he promised to expose irregularities in the SIR process and demand accountability from the Election Commission. He also reiterated his demand for a caste census, calling it key to ensuring fair representation and resource distribution for marginalized groups.
READ: Congress Casts Rahul Gandhi as ‘Jannayak’ in Bihar Yatra
Appealing for unity across caste and religious lines, Gandhi said:
“The BJP wants to divide you—Hindu against Muslim, Dalit against OBC. But we are one. Together, we will protect our votes and our democracy.”
Concluding with echoes of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said:
“That was a march for unity and justice. This Voter Adhikar Yatra is a march for your rights. Bihar will show the BJP that democracy cannot be killed.”
The speech, met with chants of “Rahul Gandhi zindabad” and “Voter Adhikar Yatra zindabad,” set the tone for the 16-day, 1,300-km campaign. Supporters thronged around the remodeled Bharat Jodo Yatra vehicle, waving INDIA bloc flags and flooding social media with clips and slogans.
@INCIndia posted: “Rahul Gandhi’s powerful words in Sasaram: ‘The BJP steals your vote to give power to billionaires. We will fight for every voter’s right!’ #VoterAdhikarYatra.”
The Yatra will pass through 21 districts and culminate in a mega rally at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, on September 1. Analysts say Gandhi’s fiery opening has positioned the opposition as the defender of democratic values in what promises to be a fiercely contested Bihar election.
मोदी जी ने चुनाव आयोग को जादुई शक्तियां दी हैं, जिससे चुनाव आयोग जीवित लोगों को मृत और मृत लोगों को जीवित कर देती है!
इस जादुई शक्ति को विशेष गहन पुनरीक्षण (SIR)का नाम दिया गया है!यह भ्रष्ट चुनाव आयोग को ही श्रेय जाता है कि उनकी बदौलत श्री @yadavtejashwi जी को ऐसा सौभाग्य मिल… pic.twitter.com/3iYl4xkRqC
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) August 17, 2025
The Road Ahead
The Yatra will cover 21 districts including Gaya, Bhagalpur, Purnea, Darbhanga, and West Champaran through foot marches, roadshows, and public meetings. Gandhi is scheduled to address another rally in Aurangabad this evening. The campaign will culminate with a mega rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on September 1.
While the opposition projected the Yatra as a “decisive battle for democracy,” Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary mocked it, quipping: “Thanks to Nitish Kumar’s development, at least Rahul Gandhi can travel on good roads.”
Despite the jibe, the massive crowd in Sasaram signaled strong public interest and energy around the campaign.
