Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Aug 26: The INDIA bloc’s Voter Adhikar Yatra arrived in Darbhanga’s Sakri block on Tuesday, with top leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Tejashwi Yadav launching a blistering attack on the BJP-led central government and the Election Commission, accusing them of “stealing votes” and threatening the foundation of democracy.
Speaking to a massive crowd, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi said the BJP, which once accused others of petty thefts like “stealing buffaloes,” is now robbing citizens of their most basic right — the vote.
“They are not just stealing votes, they are stealing jobs, selling off national assets, and handing over the country to their corporate friends. If they succeed in vote theft, citizens could be denied disaster relief, welfare schemes, and all government benefits. This is an attack on your citizenship itself,” she warned, calling on Biharis to resist what she described as a dangerous and systematic dismantling of democracy.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, praising Priyanka’s presence, took direct aim at Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying, “Two people from Gujarat cannot snatch away the rights of Biharis. This is Bihar — people here are sharp, aware, and ready to answer back through the ballot.”
Rahul Gandhi also intensified the criticism, targeting Modi and Shah’s earlier claims of ruling India for the next 40–50 years. “In a democracy, power doesn’t lie with a party, it lies with the people. Their overconfidence isn’t based on support but on manipulating the electoral process with the help of the Election Commission. They’ve been exposed,” he said.
Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, joined the Yatra in solidarity. Rahul Gandhi later posted a video on X showing INDIA bloc leaders — including Tejashwi Yadav, Dipankar Bhattacharya, Mukesh Sahani, Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Rajesh Ram, and others — holding discussions with Tushar Gandhi over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter rolls.
During the meeting, the bloc leaders also accused the BJP and RSS of consistently undermining the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, alleging that their current actions reflect a continued disregard for democratic values.
The Darbhanga leg of the Yatra has become a major flashpoint in Bihar politics, with the opposition coalition alleging that the NDA government is attempting to subvert electoral integrity and manipulate the voter list ahead of upcoming elections.