During a joint press conference in Araria on Sunday, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, lambasted the Election Commission of India (ECI) for what he described as systemic failures in maintaining accurate voter lists. The event, co-addressed with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav and other INDIA bloc allies, came amid the ongoing Voter Adhikar Yatra, a statewide campaign highlighting concerns over electoral integrity ahead of Bihar's upcoming assembly polls.
Gandhi's remarks centered on accusations of "vote theft," claiming that discrepancies in voter rolls have disenfranchised millions, particularly the poor and marginalised communities. He drew parallels to similar issues in other states, asserting that the ECI's lapses have enabled manipulation favouring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "The yatra is very successful and people are coming organically. It is clear that whatever we said about vote theft, crores of people of Bihar believe and accept it," Gandhi stated. "The work of the Election Commission is to provide the correct voter list and they did not do this in Maharashtra, Haryana and Karnataka. Our entire pressure is to change the behaviour of the Election Commission and we will not leave it. We will not let you steal the election in Bihar”, Rahul Gandhi said.
He further highlighted bizarre anomalies uncovered during the ‘yatra’, noting instances where living individuals were erroneously marked as deceased on official records. "We are finding people in Bihar who are alive but have been declared dead in the voter list," Gandhi revealed, emphasising how such errors could suppress votes from vulnerable sections. These claims, he argued, point to a deliberate attempt to undermine democracy, especially through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the opposition views as a tool for manipulation. The press conference followed a high energy motorcycle rally earlier in the day, where Gandhi and Yadav rode through the streets of Araria, drawing massive crowds and symbolising grassroots mobilisation. Videos of the duo on bikes went viral. A minor security incident occurred when a man attempted to approach Gandhi during the ride, but it was swiftly handled without disruption.
The Voter Adhikar Yatra, launched on August 17 from Sasaram, is a 1,300 kilometer march spanning over 20 districts across Bihar. Organised by the opposition alliance, it aims to raise awareness about alleged irregularities in voter registration and push for transparent electoral processes. Spanning 16 days, the campaign will culminate in a grand rally in Patna on September 1, with participants engaging directly with affected voters to document grievances. Gandhi has repeatedly tied these issues to broader critiques of the BJP-led central government, accusing it of prioritising capitalist interests over public welfare and eroding constitutional safeguards for Dalits, backward classes, and women. Tejashwi Yadav echoed Gandhi's sentiments, criticising the Nitish Kumar-led state government for complicity in the SIR process, which he claimed disproportionately impacts opposition strongholds.
