On September 1, 2025, Rahul Gandhi led a concluding padyatra in Patna, where thousands rallied to cap the Congress-led Voter Adhikar Yatra, a statewide campaign protesting alleged voter roll irregularities in Bihar. The march moved from Gandhi Maidan toward Ambedkar Park, with INDIA bloc partners in tow.
Beyond optics, the finale underscores how voter-list revisions and election administration have become the central battleground ahead of the Bihar assembly polls. By stitching together allies and a large street presence, the opposition aims to frame the 2025 campaign around “voter rights” and what it calls “vote theft,” forcing the ruling camp to defend the legitimacy of ongoing electoral processes.
The day’s scenes: symbolism and scale
A “rich-in-symbolism” procession began at Gandhi Maidan, where leaders offered tributes before setting off. Visuals showed opposition flags and placards referencing the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of rolls, which the Congress alleges enables disenfranchisement of poorer voters; the Commission has not endorsed those claims. Crowd estimates varied, with NDTV reporting plans for participation of up to one lakh people.
Who marched—and the message
Alongside Rahul Gandhi were Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), Mukesh Sahni (VIP), and other Mahagathbandhan figures; Hemant Soren signalled his presence to underline opposition unity, and TMC leaders also joined in. Speakers repeated the campaign’s refrain—“Vote chori, gaddi chhor”—and urged vigilance over additions and deletions in the electoral rolls.
Numbers, route, and timeline
The yatra has logged ~1,300 km, touching 25 districts and over 110 assembly constituencies across roughly two weeks, according to multiple outlets. Photo essays in recent days tracked the final phase, including high-profile appearances that kept momentum through the weekend. While some reports called it a 14-day program, others described a 16-day march—an indicator of rolling schedules and evolving routes typical of such campaigns.
Background: What triggered the protest line?
Congress leaders say the Special Intensive Revision risks improper deletions and politically skewed additions; they have asked for greater transparency, on-ground verification, and third-party audits. BJP leaders, for their part, have dismissed the charges and accused the opposition of manufacturing controversy. In the run-up to the finale, the BJP also mounted a candle march in Patna over a separate controversy involving abusive remarks allegedly made from an opposition stage, intensifying the partisan atmosphere around the yatra.
Quotes and cues from the ground
Opposition speakers framed the march as a constitutional duty to protect universal franchise; several insisted the campaign would continue in institutional forums through petitions and representations. From the BJP side, leaders like Nityanand Rai castigated the yatra’s rhetoric, calling it divisive and alleging it sowed social discord—signalling the narrative lines for the weeks to come.
What’s next—key dates and watch points
- Petitions & representations: Expect formal submissions to the Election Commission in Delhi and Patna seeking audits of additions/deletions and publication of granular roll changes.
- Alliance choreography: The finale doubles as a unity show. Watch whether the INDIA bloc announces a joint seat-sharing framework or a shared voter-rights charter in September.
- Campaign pivot: With the street mobilization complete, the battle shifts to booth-level training, legal challenges (if any), and media messaging around voter education and turnout.
Attribution & sources
According to Deccan Herald, NDTV, and Hindustan Times, the Voter Adhikar Yatra concluded with a large march in Patna after covering ~1,300 km and 110+ constituencies; allied leaders including Tejashwi Yadav and others joined, with crowds in the thousands and plans for up to one lakh participants. Photo coverage by the Times of India traced the final leg, while The Federal detailed the day’s schedule. For political counter-reactions and parallel protests, see Times of India (Patna) and Navbharat Times.
Conclusion
The Patna finale delivered what the opposition needed: scale, solidarity, and a single-issue frame—voter rights—around which to rally cadres and coalition partners. Whether that narrative endures will depend less on slogans and more on concrete follow-through: granular scrutiny of electoral rolls, institutional engagement with the EC, and a disciplined, ground-level push to convert protest energy into votes when Bihar heads to the polls.
