NEW DELHI: For 16 days, Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ carved a noisy trail through Bihar’s dusty highways and crowded colonies. More than a campaign, it was pitched as a “moral” crusade: a fight to “protect the vote” of millions allegedly struck off the rolls. The march had political theatrics, constitutional sermons, and opposition show of force – adding to both hope and controversy.

25 districts, 110 seats, 1300 km

Over 1,300 km, across 25 of 38 districts and 110 assembly constituencies, Rahul Gandhi walked, rode bikes, and waved his way through Bihar’s politically charged landscape. From Sasaram to Patna, the yatra drew vast crowds, with slogans like ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhor’ echoing throughout.

INDIA bloc allies joined at different stages, turning the yatra into a a portrait of opposition unity.Leaders who joinedthe yatra:

The message: One person, one vote

At its core, the campaign was about a single phrase ‘vote theft.’ Rahul Gandhi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of disenfranchising more than 65 lakh voters, disproportionately Dalits, OBCs, Muslims, and the poor, through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. “This is not just about Bihar, it is about India’s democracy,” he declared at multiple stops, equating the march with a defence of the Constitution itself.

Congress gets a new script

While Congress has long been a marginal force in Bihar, this yatra has pushed Rahul Gandhi into the role of lead protagonist in the opposition drama, rather than a supporting character. Though Congress has long been a minor player in Bihar politics, the yatra has also revived its cadre, giving local workers visibility and provided the party a chance to reset its organisational machinery months before Bihar assembly elections.

By framing the battle as one of rights and democracy, rather than caste politics alone, Congress seeks to leapfrog back into Bihar’s political relevance. The yatra has also sharpened opposition attacks on the EC, ensuring the issue will reverberate in coming elections.

Symbolism and spectacle

The finale in Patna on Monday tied the campaign’s rhetoric to history. Marching from Gandhi Maidan to Ambedkar’s statue, Rahul Gandhi invoked both leaders’ legacies, casting the yatra as a “revolution for electoral justice.”

Visuals of him in white T-shirt and local gamcha, riding jeeps and chatting with villagers, were circulated widely on social media by the party – crafted as proof of a grounded, accessible leader. Congress leader also stepped into knee-deep waters to see how makhana (fox nuts) – world’s new favourite superfood from Bihar – is grown. Sharing a video of his interaction, Rahul said the entire hard work is done by 99 per cent ‘Bahujans’ while the benefit goes to only 1 per cent middlemen, as he vowed to fight this “injustice”.

The controversies

But the road was not without bumps. A police constable injured in Rahul Gandhi’s convoy became a flashpoint for BJP attacks. Meanwhile, alleged abusive remarks against PM Modi during a rally in Darbhanga drew sharp and coordinated criticism from the BJP.

Both party workers also clashes in Patna over the remarks escalating political tensions.

What’s next?

The yatra has undeniably energised Congress’s rank and file, repositioned Rahul Gandhi as a rights-focused challenger to PM Modi, and sent a message of opposition unity in a state where caste politics usually dominates. But the unanswered question remains: will this momentum last, or will it fade like previous Congress spurts?For now, Rahul Gandhi leaves Bihar having turned “vote theft” into a political battle cry and hoping his yatra is remembered less as a roadshow, and more as the beginning of a movement that translates into results in upcoming elections.