Rahul Gandhi Launches 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar Amid Voter Roll Controversy
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a 16-day 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' (Voter Rights March) across Bihar to protest the alleged disenfranchisement of voters through a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The campaign, spanning over 20 districts, challenges the Election Commission's process, which the opposition claims could remove lakhs of Dalit, migrant, and poor voters from lists ahead of state elections. The yatra aims to build momentum for the INDIA bloc and ensure a clean voter list.
Unpacked:
The SIR is a process by the Election Commission to update and verify voter lists. Critics allege it could disproportionately remove Dalit, migrant, and poor voters, potentially impacting electoral fairness ahead of Bihar's elections. The Supreme Court has intervened, directing the EC to publish reasons for 65 lakh voter deletions, reflecting the controversy over transparency and inclusiveness.
The Yatra is led by Congress's Rahul Gandhi and supported by key INDIA bloc allies, including RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, left parties such as CPI(ML), CPI, CPI(M), Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. It reflects a united opposition front against the ruling BJP in Bihar.
The Election Commission has faced strong opposition criticism but has complied with a Supreme Court order to make a searchable list of about 65 lakh omitted names and their deletion reasons public online. The EC maintains the SIR is part of regular voter list maintenance, not disenfranchisement.
The Yatra aims to mobilize support for the opposition, raise awareness about alleged voter suppression, and build momentum for the INDIA bloc. By drawing attention to electoral roll issues and uniting opposition leaders, it could influence voter turnout and shape the election narrative in Bihar.