In the run-up to the Assembly elections in Bihar, Congress leaders are, purportedly, toiling hard to transform Rahul Gandhi's upcoming yatra into a national event. Starting on August 17, the yatra will protest the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has been criticised by opposition parties for allegedly leading to the removal of over 65 lakh names in Bihar.
Party functionaries from both the AICC and state levels have been busy remodelling the Bihar yatra to mirror Gandhi’s 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra. During that campaign, Gandhi walked approximately 4,000 kilometres to promote social harmony. This new yatra is a similar effort to highlight what the Congress sees as a nationwide issue of voter list manipulation.
Gandhi plans to conduct the yatra in a hybrid format, combining walking with travel in a motorcade. Following the pattern of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) will spend his nights in fabricated containers. Each day will likely feature two stretches of travel— one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Gandhi will also, reportedly, hold small meetings with local residents and receive various delegations to discuss the SIR and other relevant issues.
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The yatra will begin from Sasaram district and traverse 25 districts across the state, including Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, and Patna, before concluding on September 1. The primary objective is to rally public support against what Gandhi has termed an "attack on the Indian Constitution".
To ensure the yatra's maximum impact, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed several national-level leaders as district-wise coordinators. Other national leaders will join the yatra at different stages, just as they did during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Leaders from the INDIA bloc are also expected to participate at various points, with Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav being a permanent fixture throughout the campaign.
The yatra will culminate in a grand rally on September 1 at Patna's iconic Gandhi Maidan. All INDIA bloc leaders are expected to attend, in an attempt to turn the event into a significant show of Opposition strength. The Opposition has described the SIR as a 'nexus' between the Election Commission of India and the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that it is a deliberate attempt to suppress opposition voters.
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