Rahul, Tejashwi Take to Streets in Bihar Over Alleged Voter List Manipulation

Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav Lead Bihar Protest Over Voter Roll Revision, Labour Code.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav are spearheading a massive statewide protest in Bihar on Wednesday, targeting the Centre’s move to revise electoral rolls and implement the contentious new labour code.

The “Chakka Jam” (road blockade) protest, backed by the INDIA bloc and 10 central trade unions, coincides with the nationwide Bharat Bandh to press demands including a minimum wage of ₹26,000 and the restoration of the old pension scheme.

Rahul Gandhi is expected to join the protest march at 10 am in Patna, walking from the Income Tax Golambar to the office of the Election Commission of India (ECI). He will be accompanied by Tejashwi Yadav and other leaders from Mahagathbandhan allies, including the Congress, RJD, Left parties, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), and independent MLA Pappu Yadav.

The protest is primarily aimed at opposing the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the Opposition alleges is being carried out in haste and could lead to large-scale voter exclusion. The leaders have accused the BJP-led NDA government of using the revision to gain an electoral edge ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

Early visuals showed protests erupting across several districts. In Hajipur, RJD supporters blocked the Gandhi Setu, a key bridge over the Ganga. In Sonpur, the blockade was led by RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan, while in Jehanabad, members of the RJD’s student wing blocked train tracks at the railway station.

Security has been tightened across protest-prone zones, with heavy police deployment reported in Patna, Hajipur, and other key locations.

The call for protest was announced at a joint press conference on Monday attended by Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh, AICC Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, and Left party representatives.

Tejashwi, addressing the press, accused the government of engineering “confusion” through the SIR process and said the opposition would not allow democracy to be undermined. “This exercise is not just flawed, it’s deeply suspicious. The government wants to tamper with the voter list to suit its political interests,” he said.

Protesters are also opposing the new labour code, claiming it dilutes workers’ rights and paves the way for large-scale exploitation. The opposition parties have vowed to continue agitations if their demands are not met.