MUKESH SAHANI ACCUSES BJP OF STEALING VOTES, VOWS TO PROTECT VOTER RIGHTS IN BIHAR YATRA

MUKESH SAHANI ACCUSES BJP OF STEALING VOTES, VOWS TO PROTECT VOTER RIGHTS IN BIHAR YATRA

31-AUG-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------In a series of fiery speeches during the ongoing Voter Rights Yatra led by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, under the banner of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder and former Bihar minister Mukesh Sahani has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sahani, addressing public gatherings across Bihar, accused the BJP of undermining democracy by "stealing votes" to form governments, emphasizing that the right to vote—bestowed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Baba Saheb)—is essential for the poor and marginalized to live with dignity.

The yatra, aimed at safeguarding voter rights and promoting democratic values, has drawn significant crowds, signaling public discontent with the current political landscape. Sahani's remarks, delivered over the past few days in Siwan, Ara, and Sitamarhi, highlight a unified theme: the BJP's alleged attempts to erode the constitutional rights of the underprivileged, including Dalits, backward classes, and the poor.

On August 29, the yatra reached Siwan, where Sahani addressed a large public meeting. He invoked the sacrifices of India's freedom fighters who battled the British to secure independence, leading to the establishment of democracy and the Constitution. "Our ancestors fought the British to free the country, after which democracy arrived and the Constitution was given," Sahani said. He stressed that in a democracy, the people are the true masters, electing their Prime Minister and Chief Minister through their votes. However, he alleged, "The BJP is now stealing votes to form governments. If votes are stolen, how can we have a good government that truly represents the people?"

Drawing inspiration from the legendary laborer Dashrath Manjhi, who single-handedly carved a path through a mountain, Sahani declared, "Just as Manjhi said he wouldn't stop until the mountain was broken, we too will not rest until the BJP is removed from power in Bihar and the country." He asserted that the overwhelming support for the yatra guarantees that Bihar's people desire change, promising to build a "new Bihar" with a government truly accountable to the masses if given the opportunity.

The following day, on August 30, the yatra moved to Ara, where Sahani intensified his criticism, implicating the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) alongside the BJP. "Today, the RSS and BJP are eyeing the rights of the poor, Dalits, and backward classes to end them," he warned. Sahani claimed these forces are actively attempting vote theft in Bihar, urging the public to remain vigilant. "If the right to vote is taken away, we will have nothing left," he cautioned, positioning the yatra not just as a campaign for voter protection but as the "beginning of change" in Bihar and across India. He highlighted Bihar's historical role in sparking national revolutions, vowing that the state would once again lead the fight against vote manipulation.

The yatra continued to Sitamarhi, where Sahani, along with other leaders, offered prayers at the Maa Janaki Temple, seeking prosperity for the nation. In a subsequent rally at Riga, he revisited the pre-independence era, noting how Dalits, the poor, and extremely backward communities were treated as untouchables. "After independence, Baba Saheb gave us the Constitution, ensuring equal rights for all. The Congress party played the biggest role in the freedom struggle," Sahani said, crediting the post-independence framework for empowering the masses through democracy.

Reiterating his core accusation, Sahani stated, "Baba Saheb provided democracy through the Constitution, making the people the masters who choose their leaders via votes. But the BJP is stealing votes to form governments, and such governments cannot be honest to the people—we're seeing that now." He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to fulfill 2014 election promises and warned of the BJP's renewed efforts to seize power in Bihar through unfair means. "We've started this fight, and we won't allow vote theft in Bihar under any circumstances," he affirmed.

Sahani's consistent messaging across these stops underscores a broader narrative of protecting constitutional democracy from alleged subversion. The enthusiastic public response, including grand welcomes and large turnouts, reinforces his claim that Bihar and the nation are ready for transformation. As the Voter Rights Yatra progresses, it appears poised to galvanize opposition forces ahead of upcoming elections, with Sahani positioning himself as a champion of the marginalized against what he describes as anti-democratic tactics by the ruling alliance.