Tejashwi Yadav on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing it of colluding with the Election Commission to erase eligible voters from the rolls in poll-bound Bihar. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 14-day Voter Adhikar Yatra, alongside Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, and other INDIA bloc leaders, Yadav alleged systematic voter suppression across the state. He also accused the NDA, led by CM Nitish Kumar, of copying welfare schemes introduced by the INDIA bloc, asking voters whether they wanted a “duplicate” or the “original” Chief Minister.
"The land of Bihar is the birthplace of our democracy. Yet today, the duo from the BJP, in cohorts with the Election Commission, is trying to erase democracy from the very soil where it was born. People of Bihar, will you allow them to destroy our democracy? Do you want them to dismantle our Constitution? Ask yourselves, do you want democracy or autocracy?" questioned Tejashwi Yadav at the closing ceremony of the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra.’
He sharpened his attack at the saffron party and accused Prime Minister Narendar Modi of depriving the common people of Bihar of opportunities that are available in BJP run states like Gujarat. “Those in BJP have their brains in their knees. They want cheat the people of Bihar. Modiji will set factories in Gujarat, but he wants victory from Bihar. Is that even possible? The people of Bihar know how to deal with such cheaters,” asserted the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly.
"Our Chief Minister has flipped sides so many times that it’s made his head spin. Now, he’s in a state of unconsciousness. The government currently running in Bihar is a so-called double-engine government; one engine is stuck in crime, and the other in corruption. Many people's names are being removed from the voter list. You must protect your vote,” said Tejashwi Yadav, urging the people of Bihar to be aware of their rights.
He took another swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that his government blatantly “copied” welfare schemes propounded by the INDIA Alliance. "This government can only copy our schemes; they have no vision of their own. That’s why Tejashwi is leading, and they’re left trailing behind. Now, it’s up to you to decide: do you want a duplicate Chief Minister or the original one?" he questioned.
The Voter Adhikar Yatra spearheded by Rahul Gandhi and Congress, alongside Tejashwi Yadav and RJD, which began on 17 August from Sasaram, has traversed more than 110 assembly constituencies across 25 districts, covering areas such as Bhagalpur, Katihar, Gaya, Darbhanga, and West Champaran. At every stop, the central message has been clear; resisting what the opposition claims is a systematic effort to suppress votes in Bihar.
