Daijiworld Media Network - Katihar
Katihar, Aug 24: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has once again criticized the Election Commission of India, accusing it of siding with the BJP and allowing serious irregularities in the ongoing revision of Bihar's electoral rolls. Speaking in Purnia after leading the ongoing Voter Adhikar Yatra, Gandhi urged the Commission to reflect on the growing discontent among ordinary citizens, warning that its credibility is under threat.
According to Gandhi, even children are echoing slogans like “Vote Chor, Kursi Chod” — a sign, he claims, of widespread political awareness and frustration over alleged voter list manipulation. “It’s unusual but telling that kids across Bihar are talking about vote theft. That should make the Election Commission pause and reconsider its actions,” he said.
Gandhi refuted the Commission's justification that only deceased or migrated individuals were removed from the rolls, insisting that numerous cases of wrongful deletion are surfacing daily. “We’ve met countless people who have voted several times in the past but now find their names missing,” he said, expressing disbelief at the poll panel’s explanations.
This march marks Gandhi’s third such campaign in recent years, following the Bharat Jodo and Nyay Yatras. He expressed gratitude for the public’s support, stating, “Together, we are defending the Constitution, the right to vote, and the vision of a just future. These values have deep roots in our nation’s long history.”
When questioned about the Congress party's plans for farmers in Bihar, Gandhi pointed to the national manifesto, promising measures to reduce farmers' debt burdens and improve agricultural policies. He added that a state-specific manifesto is also being prepared with farmers’ interests at its core.
On whether Tejashwi Yadav would be projected as the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate, Gandhi sidestepped the question, emphasizing instead the unity and mutual respect within the Mahagathbandhan alliance. “We’re working as one team. What matters most right now is stopping the theft of votes,” he said.
The 16-day Voter Adhikar Yatra, a joint effort of Bihar’s opposition alliance, spans 1,300 kilometers across 20 districts. It is a direct response to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which opposition leaders say is leading to widespread disenfranchisement. The march will culminate in Patna on September 1, just ahead of the state Assembly elections, where over 70 million voters are set to elect a new 243-member legislature.