In Bihar, Rahul Gandhi’s “Voter Adhikar Yatra” against SIR gets underway today.

Amid the growing criticism over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter rolls, Congress leader and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is all set to embark on his Voter Adhikar Yatra—a 16-day march aimed at championing electoral reforms and exposing alleged manipulations in the voter lists–from Dehri of the western Rohtas district from today.

The SIR procedure, which has allegedly removed over 6.5 million names from the voting rolls, is accused by the opposition of being a purposeful attempt to tamper with votes, disproportionately harming migrant workers, minorities, and underprivileged areas.

Beginning with a massive kickoff rally at Saura Aerodrome Ground near Dehri in Sasaram, the Yatra will traverse the varied landscapes of Bihar before ending on September 1 with a spectacular rally in Patna’s famed Gandhi Maidan. It continues with a padyatra along Kutumba’s Dev Road Amba on August 18, traversing the Aurangabad area. Activities at Punama Wazirganj’s Hanuman Mandir on August 19 will concentrate on the Gaya and Nawada regions. August 20 is set aside as a day off for relaxation and socializing with the community. Rahul Gandhi will arrive at Teen Mohani Durga Mandir in Sheikhpura and enter the Lakhisarai district on August 21, the fifth day of the yatra.

On August 22, he will visit Munger’s Chandan Bagh Chowk to address voters in the Bhagalpur division. At Kursela Chowk in Barari, Katihar, on August 23, the Yatra will enter northeastern Bihar. On August 24 (the eighth day), the yatra will pass via the Purnia area and pass through Khushkibag from Katihar to Purnia. Another break day for strategy discussions is August 25.

The yatra ends at Arrah after arriving at Ekma Chowk in Ekma Assembly, Chapra, in the Saran district, on August 30. To get ready for the finale, August 31 is a day off. Last but not least, leaders of the INDIA bloc are expected to participate in a massive voter adhikar rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on September 1.

“This Yatra will give a new dimension to electoral politics in the country,” said a senior Congress leader Kishore Kumar Jha, stressing its potential to mobilise masses for transparency in elections. “The excitement is amplified by the INDIA bloc’s stellar performance in the 2024 Lok sabha elections , where alliance candidates secured victories in nearly all seats in Bihar where Rahul Gandhi visited during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Rahul Gandhi has vowed to defend democracy and has presented the Yatra as a “direct fight against vote chori” (vote theft) from Bihar’s territory. The Rohtas district administration is carefully considering four important factors before approving Rahul Gandhi’s public gathering and cadre engagement camp at Suara Aerodrome Ground near Dehri on August 17 in advance of the Yatra. To guarantee flawless preparations for the yatra, Superintendent of Police (SP) Roshan Kumar and District Magistrate (DM) Udita Singh also met.