Rahul Gandhi launches 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', accuses EC of aiding BJP in poll manipulation

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission, accusing it of colluding with the BJP to "steal elections" through manipulation of voter rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Launching the 1,300-km ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar’s Sasaram, Gandhi alleged a “conspiracy” to distort the upcoming Assembly polls by adding and deleting voters.

He claimed his recent press conference exposed this “vote chori” and criticised the EC for demanding an affidavit from him while allegedly ignoring similar claims made by BJP leaders. “This is a fight to save the Constitution,” Gandhi said, warning that poor voters, whose only power is their vote, are being betrayed. He accused the BJP and RSS of trying to destroy the Constitution across the country.

Citing recent elections in Maharashtra, Gandhi alleged mass voter additions helped the BJP swing results, claiming that “wherever one crore new voters were added, the BJP won.” He also referred to an instance where Congress alleged over one lakh votes were "stolen" in a single Assembly segment, resulting in the BJP’s victory.

The yatra, which Gandhi said aims to protect the fundamental right of "one person, one vote", will cover over 20 districts and conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. Top INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, and senior leaders from CPI(ML), CPM, CPI, and VIP, joined the launch. Party leaders said the yatra will be held in hybrid mode, partly on foot and partly by vehicle, and will pass through key districts such as Gaya, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Darbhanga, and both East and West Champaran.