Rahul Gandhi to Lead Bihar Bandh Protest on July 9 Over EC’s Voter Roll Revision

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is set to spearhead a statewide protest in Bihar on July 9, as part of a bandh called by the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc. The demonstration, which includes a “chakka jam” (road blockade), is aimed at opposing the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

The opposition alliance, comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, has raised concerns over the EC’s directive requiring voters to submit documents beyond Aadhaar and PAN cards during the door-to-door verification process. Critics argue that the move could disenfranchise millions, particularly marginalized groups such as Dalits, Muslims, and migrant workers.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who will join Gandhi in Patna for the protest, accused the EC of issuing inconsistent instructions and creating confusion among booth-level officers. He warned that the current verification process risks stripping citizens of their voting rights and likened the exercise to “votebandi,” drawing parallels with demonetization.

The bandh will include a march to the Election Commission’s office in Patna, with similar protests planned across the state. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions challenging the EC’s revision process on July 10, a day after the bandh.

Adding to the political tension, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav criticized the central government, alleging that the voter roll revision is part of a broader attempt to undermine democratic rights in Bihar.

The EC has maintained that the revision is necessary for accurate voter records, but opposition leaders continue to demand clarity and transparency in the process. As the protest looms, Bihar braces for a day of political mobilization and heightened scrutiny of electoral procedures.