– Abdul Bari Masoud
Bihar’s political temperature has reached new heights, thanks to the Vote Adhikar Yatra, a high-voltage, 16-day march led by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi that has captured the imagination of millions across the state and beyond. Framed as a fight for electoral justice, the Yatra struck a chord with ordinary voters by highlighting allegations of largescale voter disenfranchisement in Bihar. These charges emerged in the wake of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the Opposition claims unfairly deleted the names of marginalised communities.
By the time the Yatra concluded in Patna with a massive rally, its momentum seemed unstoppable. Cutting through more than 20 districts and covering over 1,300 kms, the campaign electrified Bihar’s Opposition alliance and positioned them as the champions of electoral rights in a state where voting has historically been intertwined with identity, dignity, and survival.
But as the Yatra’s narrative gathered steam, the BJP launched a tactical counteroffensive. The trigger came in the form of an incident at one rally, where an individual allegedly linked to BJP hurled abuses at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late mother. Within hours, BJP leaders transformed the episode into a political flashpoint, portraying Modi as the victim of “gutter politics” and accusing the Opposition of lacking basic decency.
For years, Modi’s ability to turn personal attacks into political capital has been one of his defining strengths. This time, however, the gambit appears to have backfired. Instead of weakening the Yatra, the controversy seemed to give it fresh visibility. Voters, analysts, and even sections of the media began to see the uproar as a diversionary tactic designed to deflect attention from the Opposition’s core charge: that the BJP is manipulating the electoral rolls to steal elections through disenfranchisement.
A March for Right to Vote
From the outset, the Yatra was pitched as a direct challenge to the BJP’s electoral legitimacy. Rahul Gandhi framed the campaign around the charge of “vote chori” – allegations of systematic manipulation and deletion of names from voter lists, particularly targeting backward castes, minorities, migrant workers, and other vulnerable groups.
“The right to vote is the foundation of democracy. If that is stolen, everything else collapses,” Rahul thundered at one of the rallies. His words resonated in Bihar’s dusty heartland, where the memory of disenfranchisement – whether due to caste, class, or migration – remains etched into everyday struggles.
The rallies were charged with anger and defiance. Villagers and urban poor alike turned out in large numbers, many recounting how their names had mysteriously disappeared from electoral rolls. “We stood in line for hours last time, only to be told our names weren’t there. If our votes don’t count, what’s the point of democracy?” asked Mohammad Arif, a daily wage labourer in Darbhanga, his voice trembling with frustration.
In Patna, the Yatra’s grand finale drew an unprecedented crowd. Addressing the sea of supporters, Rahul Gandhi escalated his rhetoric, promising more explosive revelations. “I will soon bring a hydrogen bomb of evidence, even more powerful than the atom bomb of Mahadevapura,” he declared, referencing earlier allegations of electoral manipulation.
“Once these truths come out, the Prime Minister will not be able to show his face to the nation. It will be proven that he has stolen elections again and again.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed this sentiment, reminding the audience that this was the fourth nationwide Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi to defend citizens’ rights. “The Voter Adhikar Yatra has created awareness not just in Bihar but across the country,” Kharge said. He accused Modi of being “habitual of stealing votes” and warned that just as banks had been defrauded under his regime, “the vote itself is now under threat from the Modi-Shah duo.”
Modi’s Emotional Card
Faced with a campaign that was setting the agenda and dominating headlines, the BJP sought to recalibrate. The alleged insult to Modi’s mother provided a convenient opening. BJP leaders flooded television studios and social media feeds, portraying Modi as the victim of an opposition that had abandoned civility.
Union Minister Amit Shah condemned the Opposition for “crossing all limits of decency,” while BJP spokespersons described the incident as proof of the Opposition’s “moral bankruptcy.” The ruling party attempted to shift the narrative: from questions of electoral malpractice to the question of personal honour and respect.
But unlike earlier occasions when Modi successfully used personal attacks to consolidate sympathy, this time the strategy seemed less effective. Political analyst Manisha Priyam noted, “The people of Bihar are angry about their names missing from voter rolls. They are worried about their votes being stolen. In such a context, emotional appeals around family insults cannot distract from material issues.”
Even among sections of the electorate, the response was lukewarm. “We respect Modi, but we also want our votes back,” said Poonam Devi, a schoolteacher in Nalanda. “Why should the discussion shift from voting rights to his family? That’s not what this election is about.”
Opposition Unity and “Vote Chori” Narrative
Rarely in recent memory has Bihar witnessed such Opposition unity. The Vote Adhikar Yatra brought together the Congress, RJD, and Left parties in a coordinated campaign. Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav played a central role, often walking alongside Rahul Gandhi, while Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and other leaders lent their voice of support, signalling the INDIA bloc’s broader cohesion.
“This is not just about Bihar,” Tejashwi declared at one rally. “If votes are stolen here today, they will be stolen across India tomorrow. This Yatra is for every poor person, every backward caste family, every worker whose right to vote is being snatched away.”
The unity under the banner of “vote chori” has unleashed what some analysts are calling a new mass movement in Bihar, reminiscent of the anti-Emergency mobilizations of the 1970s. The resonance of the campaign among backward castes and minorities, in particular, has alarmed the BJP, which has traditionally relied on fragmented opposition to secure electoral dominance.
The National Stakes
Bihar’s election, scheduled in a few months, is shaping up to be more than a state contest. With over 73 million registered voters, the state’s outcome will have direct national ramifications. For the BJP, a victory here would reaffirm its dominance and blunt the opposition’s momentum heading into the 2029 general election. For the INDIA bloc, however, success in Bihar could serve as a blueprint for issue-based, coordinated campaigns that directly challenge the BJP’s electoral machinery.
A Watershed Moment
As the dust settles on the Patna rally, one lesson seems clear: the Vote Adhikar Yatra has sustained its momentum despite the BJP’s best efforts to derail it. Modi’s attempt to play the victim card, once a tried-and-tested strategy, appears to have backfired, sharpening focus instead on the Opposition’s core allegations.
