Rahul Gandhi Bihar Yatra Live: Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi arrive in Sasaram to join yatra
"Rahul Gandhi is starting a major campaign today, and the Election Commission's press conference is happening in this context, as they are admitting that the voter list is wrong. If the voter list is wrong, then it is their job to fix it," Shrinate said while speaking to news agency ANI.
Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary on Sunday downplayed Rahul Gandhi's "Voter Adhikar Yatra" against the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists.
Choudhary sarcastically thanked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying, "At least thanks to Nitish Kumar, Rahul Gandhi can hold his yatra on good roads. There's nothing extraordinary about it".
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav arrived in Sasaram to join the inaugural program of the "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in the poll-bound state.
Earlier in the day, Lalu Yadav departed from Patna to Sasaram by helicopter, accompanied by RJD leader and his son Tejashwi Yadav, to kick off the campaign aimed at defending citizens' right to vote ahead of the state assembly elections.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday said the Opposition will fight with full determination to safeguard citizens' right to vote, calling it the cornerstone of democracy.
"What bigger irony can there be in a democracy than people being denied the freedom to vote and choose their government?" Yadav asked. He assured voters that the Mahagathbandhan would stand firmly with them in this battle.
"लोकतंत्र में इस से बड़ी विडंबना क्या होगी कि लोगों से उनके वोट डालने की और सरकार चुनने की आजादी छिनी जा रही है। हम आप सभी को आश्वस्त करते हैं कि आपकी वोट डालने की लड़ाई शिद्दत के साथ लड़ेंगे।
इसी आवाज को मुखर करने और न्याय पाने के लिए हम 17 अगस्त से "वोटर अधिकार यात्रा' शुरू… pic.twitter.com/brbp0JXNhc
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) August 17, 2025
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday backed Rahul Gandhi's "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Bihar, calling it a fight to protect democracy and the right to vote. Yadav accused the BJP of "misusing constitutional institutions" and said Bihar, the land often called the cradle of democracy, will not remain silent. "We will fight for the people. We will not allow anyone to snatch away the right to vote," he said.
Congress has claimed that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) had actually "exposed" the designs of the BJP to disenfranchise lakhs of voters belonging to the Dalit, Adivasi and minority communities, poor people and daily wagers. The grand old party has also alleged that the Election Commission is becoming like one of the 'compartments' of the BJP.
🇮🇳 Voter Adhikar Yatra 🇮🇳
𝟏𝟔 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬. 𝟏,𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐦.
𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 👉 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲
🗓️ August 17
Bihar will rise to defend democracy, the Constitution and the rights of every citizen.
This is not just a march.
✊ It's a fight. A call. A… pic.twitter.com/cDjsndAIAb
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 16, 2025
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to address a gathering later this evening at Ramesh Chowk in Aurangabad. The 'yatra' will pass through Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chapra and Ara.
With the Bihar Assembly elections three months away, Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan leaders will launch the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' from Sasaram's BIADA Ground, ending with a Patna rally on September 1 after 16 days.
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