Bihar Bandh 2025: Opposition Blocks Roads Over Electoral Roll Revision

Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav Lead Bihar Bandh Against Voter Roll Tampering Allegations

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday joined Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav and a host of senior Mahagathbandhan leaders in a massive protest in Patna, as part of a state-wide ‘Bihar Bandh’. The protest, which took the form of a coordinated ‘chakka jam’ (road blockade), was organized to oppose the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — a move the Opposition claims is aimed at manipulating voter demographics ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections later this year.

The bandh, called by the INDIA bloc parties, saw widespread participation from workers and supporters of the Congress, RJD, CPI(ML), CPI, CPI(M), and other regional allies. Major roads and intersections across Patna were blocked as leaders marched through the city holding placards, chanting slogans, and demanding an immediate halt to what they described as an undemocratic and discriminatory process.

Addressing the media, Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized the timing and intent behind the revision exercise. “This Special Revision is not about cleaning voter rolls; it is about selectively deleting voters who don’t support the BJP. It is an attempt to attack the Constitution by disenfranchising the poor, Dalits, minorities, and migrant workers,” he said.

Tejashwi Yadav, former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, echoed similar concerns. “The NDA knows it is losing ground in Bihar, so it is trying to manipulate the voter list to cling to power. But we will not allow them to trample democracy,” Yadav declared, adding that the Opposition would escalate the agitation if the process is not stopped immediately.

The Election Commission’s SIR drive, which includes door-to-door verification, has come under fire for allegedly being implemented in a non-transparent and selective manner, particularly in constituencies considered to be Opposition strongholds. Several ground reports have indicated that large numbers of voters — especially from marginalized communities — have received notices or found their names missing from draft rolls.

Prominent leaders such as Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML Liberation), D. Raja (CPI), and Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) also lent their support to the protest, warning that this revision exercise sets a “dangerous precedent” and could undermine electoral integrity in one of India’s politically crucial states.

Shops remained shut in many areas of Patna, and public transport services were disrupted throughout the day. Police were deployed in large numbers to prevent any untoward incident, although the protest largely remained peaceful. Minor scuffles were reported in a few areas, but no major law and order issues emerged.

The Bihar Bandh and the visible show of unity among Opposition parties underscore the rising political temperature in the state as the countdown to elections begins. Analysts say the voter roll controversy may become a major poll issue, with the Opposition projecting it as a deliberate disenfranchisement campaign by the ruling dispensation.

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TIMES OF PEDIA / NATIONAL NEWS