Bihar protests LIVE: Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav lead march against electoral roll revision, new labour code

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav are leading a major protest in Bihar today against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the implementation of the new labour code. The road blockade demonstration—part of a broader “Bharat Bandh” called by ten central trade unions—has gained momentum across the state ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

Rahul Gandhi joined the protest march in Patna at 10 am, walking from the Income Tax roundabout at Golambar to the Election Commission’s office. Backed by the Mahagathbandhan alliance—which includes the RJD, Congress, Left parties, VIP, and independent leader Pappu Yadav—the protest has already seen disruptions at several locations.

In Hajipur, RJD workers blocked Gandhi Sethu, while in Sonpur, party MLA Mukesh Roshan led a major road blockade. Students from the RJD’s youth wing also staged a rail roko at Jehanabad station. Addressing the media on Monday, Tejashwi Yadav criticised the electoral roll revision exercise, alleging it was being hurriedly conducted to favour the ruling NDA and had led to widespread confusion among voters.

‘Maharashtra polls were rigged, now BJP trying to repeat it in Bihar’

Addressing protestors in Patna, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of manipulating electoral processes, saying, “Maharashtra elections were rigged, and now they want to repeat the same in Bihar — we will not allow it.”

He alleged that poll commissioners nominated by the BJP were trying to “steal the votes of Bihar’s youth” through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.

“The Election Commission must protect the Constitution, but it is working on the BJP’s instructions,” Gandhi added, according to a PTI news flash.

Rahul Gandhi with party workers in Patna (photo courtesy: @Politicx2029/X) Bihar Bandh disrupts road and rail traffic; Pappu Yadav joins protests

Rail and road movement was severely impacted across parts of Bihar on Wednesday as Mahagathbandhan workers enforced a statewide bandh to protest the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In Patna, Opposition leaders and party workers blocked Mahatma Gandhi Setu by burning tyres, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Independent MP from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, reached the Sachiwalay Halt railway station with his supporters and attempted to halt train services. He also led road and rail blockades in Patna, Araria, Purnea, Katihar, and Muzaffarpur.

Speaking to reporters, Yadav alleged that the SIR process was an attempt to disenfranchise migrants, Dalits, Mahadalits, and the poor ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. “It’s a conspiracy to block their votes,” he said.

Tyre-burning protests and road blockades were also reported in Arwal, Jehanabad, and Darbhanga by cadres of the RJD, Congress, CPI(ML) Liberation, and CPM.

Protest Procession from Income Tax Circle to Bihar Election Commission Office, Patna, Bihar@RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/WZbN6RigYs

— Congress, Minority Department (@INCMinority) July 9, 2025

Replug: Congress, allies move SC over ‘unconstitutional’ Bihar voter list revision

Earlier, the Congress and nine other opposition parties had jointly approached the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The petition alleged that the process was politically driven and could disenfranchise legitimate voters ahead of the 2025 state elections. Congress leader K C Venugopal had termed the revision “blatantly unconstitutional” and accused the EC of acting under pressure from the ruling regime.

For a detailed news report click here

Top Opposition leaders join Bihar Bandh protest in Patna

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP, was joined by RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, CPI General Secretary D Raja, CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, and Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram have joined the Bihar Bandh protests in Patna.

The statewide agitation, called by the Mahagathbandhan, is aimed at opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

Congress workers protesting in Patna (photo: @INCBihar/X) Shakeel Ahmed slams EC, says govt ‘troubling the public’

Speaking on the Bihar Bandh protest, Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said, “You can see that people are taking our call for protest seriously. The ruling parties, along with the Election Commission, are troubling the public. There are many questions—was the vote of those who exercised their franchise in the 2024 elections not valid? The current government will not be able to continue.”

#WATCH | Patna | On 'bihar Bandh' protest, Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed says, "You can see that people are taking our call for protest seriously. The ruling parties, along with the Election Commission, are troubling the public. There are many questions - was the vote of those… pic.twitter.com/S7YUsa780d

— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025

Rahul Gandhi leads opposition march to EC office in Patna

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is leading a joint opposition march to the Election Commission office in Patna, protesting against the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The protest, backed by Mahagathbandhan allies, coincides with a statewide "chakka jam" and Bharat Bandh led by central trade unions.

INDIA गठबंधन का मोर्चा है तैयार,
नहीं छीनने देंगे बिहार का मताधिकार! #Bihar #BiharVoters pic.twitter.com/l2bpF2STsT

— Bihar Congress (@INCBihar) July 9, 2025