New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) – In a significant political development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced a direct campaign against what he termed as "vote chori" (vote theft) in Bihar, with the launch of the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra.' Gandhi emphasized that the campaign is not limited to an electoral issue but is a critical movement to safeguard democracy, the Constitution, and the foundational principle of 'one man, one vote.' Gandhi took to social media platform X, stating, "Beginning August 17, our 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' will fight against vote theft in Bihar." He underlined the objective to ensure a transparent voter list nationwide, calling upon youth, workers, and farmers to participate in this mass movement. "This is a battle against the vote thieves, ensuring victory for the people and the Constitution," he asserted. The initiative will see Gandhi, aligned with INDIA bloc leaders in Bihar, leading the 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' across the state beginning August 17. The campaign aims to address concerns regarding the revision of electoral rolls and transform the fight against "vote chori" into a grassroots movement. This mobilization will culminate in a rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on September 1. The Congress party recently labeled "vote chori" as a critical issue and revealed a comprehensive plan to engage the public through various activities. A "Loktantra bachao mashaal march" was organized on August 14 at district headquarters nationwide. During a briefing, Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar divulged that the party would pursue this agenda with multiple key programs. A notable activity between August 22 and September 7 involves conducting "vote chor, gaddi chhorh" rallies in all state headquarters. Furthermore, a signature campaign from September 15 to October 15 will focus on defending voting rights and promoting civic participation. Previously, Gandhi provided data from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, alleging that over 1 lakh votes were manipulated in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment within the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka. The opposition has also vocally challenged revisions to the electoral rolls, with claims that such actions by the Election Commission aim to "disenfranchise voters" in Bihar ahead of upcoming assembly elections. This issue has led to demands for further discussions within both Parliamentary Houses.
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