Akhilesh warned that vote chori was only the beginning, claiming the BJP would next strip people of their jobs and ration cards. “This is not just about your vote, it’s about your life,” he said.
BY PC Bureau
August 30, 2025 — In a striking display of opposition solidarity, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav stood shoulder to shoulder with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav at Ara’s Veer Kunwar Singh Stadium, where a sea of supporters gathered to witness one of the most electrifying moments of the Voter Adhikar Yatra. The yatra, which has traversed Bihar since mid-August, is a direct protest against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which opposition parties allege has disenfranchised millions of voters.
Akhilesh Yadav: “We Defeated Them in Awadh, Now It’s Magadh’s Turn”
Arriving from Uttar Pradesh to loud cheers and drumbeats, Akhilesh Yadav declared his solidarity with Bihar’s electorate and the INDIA Bloc. Taking aim at the Election Commission, he said:
“This is not an Election Commission anymore; it is the BJP’s Jugaad Commission. They are trying to twist democracy into a mockery. But the people of Bihar are conducting their own SIR—a true audit of those who violated their oath and trust.”
He reminded the crowd of Uttar Pradesh’s political reversal in 2022 and sought to export that energy to Bihar:
“We defeated them in Awadh. Now it’s Magadh’s turn. Bihar has risen with a roar, and together, we will ensure this government of lies collapses under its own weight.”
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Responding to controversy around abusive sloganeering elsewhere in the yatra, Akhilesh turned the heat on the BJP:
“Who are they to lecture us about respect? The BJP specialises in insults—their chief minister in Lucknow abuses opponents daily. We are here with reverence for Bihar and its people.”
His presence was seen as a major morale boost, signaling that the INDIA Bloc intends to fight as a united front in 2025’s electoral battles.
Akhilesh warned the people that vote chori was the first step towards depriving them of their livelihood and identity. “After robbing your vote, they will take away your ration cards and your jobs. This is not only a challenge to safeguard your vote, but also your very life,” he said.
He also described the BJP as a party that believed in “use, throw, and destroy.” “They use people, then discard them, and ultimately destroy them as well,” he added.
LIVE: #VoterAdhikarYatra | Chapra to Arrah | Bihar https://t.co/6VDps704cj
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 30, 2025
Rahul Gandhi: “Your Votes Are Your Power”
Taking the stage after Akhilesh, Rahul Gandhi invoked the central message of the Voter Adhikar Yatra — protecting democracy by safeguarding the vote. His speech blended populist appeal with sharp accusations of institutional capture.
“This yatra is not about us, it is about you. The BJP wants to erase your voice. They are stealing votes in Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and here in Bihar. And now they are angry, because their theft has been caught.”
At one point, when the lights in the stadium suddenly went out, Rahul improvised, asking the massive crowd to switch on their phone torches:
“This is what they give you — darkness. But our light cannot be turned off. When each of you raises your light, there is no blackout that can silence us.”
He sharpened his attack on the Election Commission, accusing it of deliberately targeting the poor and marginalized:
“Where have the 65 lakh voters of Bihar gone? Why only the names of Dalits, backward classes, and minorities? The silence of the Commission is no accident — it is complicity.”
Closing his remarks, Rahul reminded people of their constitutional power:
“Your vote is your weapon, your shield, your future. If you lose it, you lose everything. Stay alert, stay united, and do not allow them to snatch what belongs to you.”
Tejashwi Yadav: “Certificates Sold Like Tickets”
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s speech took aim at what he called Bihar’s “corruption industry” thriving under the current system. He alleged that the SIR exercise was linked to a massive scam, siphoning crores from ordinary citizens.
“Government officers and middlemen have extorted Rs 4,000 crore from people, selling caste and residence certificates like cinema tickets. This money is being pumped into elections. That is why corruption is rising, and governance has collapsed.”
With a fiery conclusion, he pledged:
“We will give Bihar a government free of corruption and crime, a government that respects the dignity of every voter.”
A Sea of Unity in Ara
The trio’s joint appearance electrified the Ara crowd, estimated at over one lakh people by organisers. Chants of “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhodo!” rang through the stadium as supporters waved tricolors and party flags. The rally was not only a symbolic convergence of three opposition heavyweights but also a statement of intent — to confront the BJP on the twin planks of democracy and governance.
The Voter Adhikar Yatra, which has already covered over 1,300 km and 20 districts, will conclude in Patna on September 1. Leaders from across the INDIA Bloc — including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah — are expected to join in its finale, cementing the message that opposition forces are rallying behind a common cause.
