Gandhi warns Bihar could face the same voter manipulation as Maharashtra, linking it to the Dharavi redevelopment project and corporate favoritism to benefit Adani
BY PC Bureau
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday accused the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of orchestrating systematic “vote chori” (vote theft) in Bihar to benefit industrialist Gautam Adani.
Rahul Gandhi addressed a massive crowd in Munger as part of his ongoing ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’, a 16-day, 1,300-km campaign aimed at exposing alleged electoral irregularities ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
Flanked by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI(ML) Liberation’s Dipankar Bhattacharya, Gandhi alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar was being misused to delete genuine voters and add fictitious ones, undermining the democratic principle of “one person, one vote.”
Gandhi drew parallels with Maharashtra, claiming that voter list manipulation there had favored Adani’s interests, particularly in securing the Dharavi redevelopment project, one of Asia’s largest slum rehabilitation initiatives. He warned that Bihar could face a similar strategy, transferring state resources to Adani at the expense of farmers, laborers, and small traders.
READ: Delhi Police Chief Shunted Out After Attack on CM Rekha Gupta
“First, your voter card will go, then your ration card will go, and then your land will be handed over to Adani and Ambani,” Gandhi cautioned, linking alleged electoral manipulation to broader economic disenfranchisement.
The Congress leader further vowed that the party would not allow the BJP to get away with alleged ‘vote chori’, calling it an “attack on the Constitution of India.”
भारत के प्रिय मतदाताओं,
मैं आप सभी से एक सीधा सवाल पूछना चाहता हूं – जो सरकार वोट चोरी से बनी हो, क्या उसका इरादा कभी जनसेवा हो सकता है? नहीं ना!
उन्हें आपके वोट की ज़रूरत ही नहीं, इसलिए आपकी समस्याओं की परवाह भी नहीं।
आज की स्थिति आपके सामने है –
– रिकॉर्डतोड़ बेरोज़गारी के… pic.twitter.com/ZVzociHBhl
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 21, 2025
Earlier in the day, Gandhi urged citizens to safeguard their voting rights and protect the country’s democracy. On his X account, he posted:
“Dear Voters of India, I want to ask you all a straightforward question – can a government formed by stealing votes ever have the intention of serving the public? No, right! They don’t even need your votes, so they don’t care about your problems either.”
He also listed alleged governance failures of the Centre:
- “Record-breaking unemployment is ruining the future of the youth. The government keeps filling the coffers of capitalists!”
- “Scandals like NEET, SSC, and paper leaks have destroyed the careers of millions of students. The government has simply turned a blind eye!”
- “Inflation is skyrocketing, making life unbearable for the common man. Yet, the government keeps increasing taxes!”
- “Train accidents and the collapse of basic infrastructure like roads and bridges have led to the untimely deaths of hundreds of innocent people. But the government hasn’t even held anyone accountable.”
- “From Poonch to Manipur, incidents of terror and violence have occurred – hundreds have died. The government hasn’t even taken responsibility!”
- “Demonetisation, COVID, and the farmers’ protests claimed millions of lives. The Prime Minister didn’t offer help, let alone show any empathy!”
READ: SC Flags Governors’ Delays: ‘Legislature Can’t Be Made Defunct’
Launched on August 17 from Sasaram, the Vote Adhikar Yatra covers over 20 districts, including Munger, Bhagalpur, and Patna, concluding with a mega rally in Patna on September 1. Gandhi described it as a “decisive battle” to protect democracy, stressing that the right to vote is the last bastion of power for India’s poor.
Gandhi also criticized economic policies he said favored billionaires like Adani and Ambani while marginalizing local industries and laborers. Tejashwi Yadav echoed Gandhi, calling for mass participation to protect voter rights, while Jairam Ramesh described the yatra as a “moral and constitutional crusade.”
Massive Crowd and Charged Atmosphere
The Munger rally drew thousands of supporters from across Bihar, creating a charged and electrifying atmosphere. Supporters waved flags of Congress, RJD, and Left parties, while banners and posters highlighted themes of voter rights, democracy, and economic justice.
The most prominent slogan, “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” (Vote thief, leave the throne), reverberated across the rally, encapsulating the mood of protest against alleged electoral manipulation. Chants intensified whenever Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, or other leaders accused the BJP of collusion with the ECI or favoritism toward industrialists like Gautam Adani.
Observers noted that the crowd was both vociferous and disciplined, actively responding to the leaders’ calls for vigilance over the voter list. The atmosphere combined political fervor, public outrage, and urgency, reflecting the INDIA bloc’s efforts to mobilize Bihar’s electorate around issues of democracy, corporate influence, and social justice.
By linking alleged electoral fraud in Bihar to Adani’s corporate interests, Rahul Gandhi has framed the upcoming Assembly elections as a fight against vote theft and economic exploitation. As the Vote Adhikar Yatra moves through the state, the campaign remains a flashpoint in Bihar’s political narrative, with the credibility of claims and ECI’s rebuttals continuing to fuel debate.
