Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi will be leading a sweeping protest in Patna, rallying allies in the Grand Alliance against what they termed a “discriminatory” voter list revision drive underway in Bihar.
The agitation, centred around the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, is being described by the Congress, RJD, and Left parties as an “assault on the democratic rights” of the poor and marginalised communities. Gandhi, who arrived in Patna for his seventh visit in five months, spearheaded the protest march from the Income Tax roundabout to the office of the Election Commission near the Bihar Assembly.
Billed as a ‘chakka jam’, the demonstration witnessed mobilisation from across districts, with opposition cadres halting traffic at key intersections of the capital city. Protesters held placards and chanted slogans, accusing the ruling NDA of orchestrating an exclusionary revision exercise to manipulate the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled in three months.
“This is a direct attack on the voting rights of the poor,” said Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram, underlining the alliance’s core concern that the new voter verification norms disproportionately affect Dalits, Mahadalits, migrant labourers and the urban poor.
Also read: Tejashwi slams EC over Bihar SIR
The controversy centres on the Election Commission’s June 24 announcement mandating voters to produce one of 11 prescribed identity documents to remain on the rolls. The opposition argues that the move imposes undue hardship on transient or underprivileged populations, branding it a veiled attempt to disenfranchise them.
Gandhi’s presence is seen by political observers as both a show of strength and a signal of strategic focus on Bihar. Sources indicated he may also meet the family of Gopal Khemka, a local businessman who was shot dead near Gandhi Maidan on July 4, a case which has sparked public outrage and fresh salvos from the opposition over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
“The murder has shaken the conscience of the people,” said a senior Congress leader, speaking on condition of anonymity. Gandhi’s potential visit is expected to add further political weight to the Grand Alliance’s accusations that the Nitish Kumar-led administration has failed to ensure public safety.
Tuesday’s protest unfolded under a heavy security presence. Despite minor disruptions, there were no reports of violence at the time of reporting.
As the political mercury continues to rise, the Grand Alliance is hoping to turn public sentiment over issues of governance and electoral fairness into momentum at the ballot box. Whether the protest’s resonance translates into electoral advantage will be tested in the weeks to come.
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