Rahul Gandhi will conclude his Voter Adhikar Yatra with a significant padyatra in Patna, emphasizing voter rights and alleging electoral misconduct.
Patna: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a prominent Congress leader, is set to commence a padyatra in Patna on Monday. This event marks the conclusion of his Voter Adhikar Yatra, which has spanned 25 districts over the past 15 days and covered a distance of approximately 1,300 kilometers. The yatra has focused on allegations of electoral misconduct, specifically termed as “vote chori” or vote theft.
The Voter Adhikar Yatra began on August 17 in Sasaram, Bihar, with the participation of key leaders from the Mahagatbandhan coalition. Throughout its course, the yatra traversed various districts, including Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Purnea, Supaul, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Motihari, Bettiah, Saran, and Bhojpur.
The padyatra scheduled for Monday has been aptly named “Gandhi se Ambedkar.” It will commence from the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Gandhi Maidan, where Rahul Gandhi and other prominent leaders from the Mahagatbandhan, including Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Mukesh Sahni of the Vikashsheel Insan Party (VIP), and Deepankar Bhattacharya from the Left parties, will pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
Following the tribute, the procession will proceed along S.P. Verma Road, Dak Bungalow Chauraha, Kotwali Thana, Nehru Path, and Income Tax Chauraha, ultimately reaching Baba Saheb Ambedkar Park near the Patna High Court. At the park, the leaders will pay homage to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
The padyatra will culminate in a public address focusing on the alleged vote theft, a central theme of the Congress and Mahagatbandhan’s messaging during the yatra. Over the past two weeks, the coalition has aimed to highlight what they describe as collusion between the Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding electoral integrity.
In a strategic shift, the Congress party opted for a padyatra instead of a mega rally, allowing for broader participation from various leaders within the INDIA bloc. Earlier, Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal had announced plans for a large rally on September 1 to address the issue of “vote chors,” or vote thieves.
Pawan Khera, a Congress leader and Chairman of the media and publicity department, emphasized that Gandhi’s yatra has taken on the character of a religious pilgrimage, uniting people of diverse faiths in the common cause of protecting their voting rights. He stated, “On September 1, it will conclude with a procession in Patna in which our leaders will march from Gandhi Maidan to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue. It will not be the end, but the beginning of a new yatra towards protecting our democracy.” Khera also expressed confidence that “lakhs of people will participate in the padyatra.”
In preparation for the event, the streets of Patna have been adorned with posters from the Congress and other Mahagatbandhan parties, and the organization has made extensive arrangements to ensure the success of the yatra.
As the padyatra approaches, it is clear that the Congress party is mobilizing significant grassroots support, aiming to galvanize public sentiment around the issues of electoral integrity and voter rights.
Source: Original article