The INDIA alliance’s historic Voter Adhikar Yatra (Right to Vote March) was launched on 17 August 2025 from Sasaram, Bihar, with the aim of strengthening people’s voices against electoral fraud and raising struggles over employment, education, health, agriculture and social justice. With its central theme of defending the universal adult franchise, the Yatra will traverse several districts of the state before concluding with a mass rally in Patna on 1 September.
Day One: Historic Beginning in Sasaram
The Yatra was flagged off at a massive public meeting in Sasaram by CPI(ML) General Secretary Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, VIP leader Mukesh Sahani, and other INDIA alliance leaders.
In his address, Comrade Dipankar declared that the Yatra was “not merely a march but the beginning of a movement”, with the slogan “Change the government, change Bihar” resonating across the state.
CPI(ML) leaders including State Secretary Kunal, MPs Raja Ram Singh and Sudama Prasad, MLAs Arun Singh, Ajit Kumar Singh and Shiv Prakash Ranjan, MLC Shashi Yadav, former MLA Manoj Manzil, Polit Bureau member Amar Singh, Central Committee members Santosh Sahar and Raju Yadav, former MLA Chandradeep Singh, and others were also present.
Day Two: From Aurangabad to Gaya
On 18 August, the Yatra resumed from Devkriti Marriage Hall, Aurangabad. Before setting out, Comrade Dipankar said that the march reflected the people’s anger at attempts during the State Intensive Revision (SIR) to disenfranchise voters—by declaring living citizens as “dead” and migrant workers as “outsiders.” He said the Nitish Kumar government had become a burden on the people, and they were determined to throw it off.
The Yatra passed through Rafi ganj, Guraru, Khaira, Ahiyapur, Sultanpur, Panchananpur and Gaya, greeted by massive crowds. At Dev, Comrade Dipankar and MLC Shashi Yadav joined Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav in addressing lakhs of people.
Thousands of people raised spirited slogans of “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” (Election thieves, quit office) and “Inquilab Zindabad” in Guraru, Panchananpur and other centres, with active participation from peasant leaders, women’s groups and student activists. The day ended with an overnight halt at Rasalpur Cricket Ground, Gaya.
Day Three: Gaya to Nawada
On 19 August, Comrade Dipankar, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav led the Yatra from Rasalpur, Gaya. Addressing the gathering before departure, Comrade Dipankar said the march had already turned into a “mass movement”, pointing to the overwhelming response in Aurangabad and Gaya where people of all ages waited for hours to greet the procession.
At Manaini village (Gaya), leaders held a dialogue with residents, hearing grievances over smart meters, microfinance loan harassment, and exclusion from ration, pensions and welfare schemes.
Tens of thousands lined the roads as the Yatra advanced towards Nawada via Hisua, Laloonagar and Chhoti Pali. In Nawada town, the procession was welcomed up to Democracy Chowk, followed by a major public meeting at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk addressed jointly by Comrade Dipankar, Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav and Mukesh Sahani.
Later, at a press conference in the IIT campus, Nawada, Comrade Dipankar—speaking alongside Congress leader Alka Lamba—recalled his week-long padyatra from Gaya to Nawada last year. He said that “Twenty years of Nitish-BJP rule has reduced Bihar to poverty, feudal oppression, unemployment, suicides under debt, and mass migration.” The ongoing wave of popular anger, he said, would defeat electoral fraud through the SIR and oust te “vote thieves.”
The third day concluded with a rally at Barbigha, where Comrade Dipankar called upon the people to ensure the defeat of the BJP-JD(U) regime in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
The Voter Adhikar Yatra will cover 1,300 km in three phases, passing through Sheikpura, Munger, Katihar, Purnia, Supaul, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Bettiah, Chapra, Arrah, and finally reaching Patna on 1 September for a grand concluding rally.
