Rahul-Tejashwi preparing stage to justify their defeat in the upcoming Assembly election: Bihar Minister Sanjay Saraogi

Bihar Minister and BJP leader Sanjay Saraogi on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) took a dig at the INDIA bloc’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, claiming that the rally was not for voter’s rights, but an exercise to justify the grouping’s defeat in the upcoming Assembly election in the State.

The Vote Adhikar Yatra was launched by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on August 17 in protest against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State.

Addressing the press at the BJP state headquarters, Mr. Saraogi said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to Rohtas as part of the yatra, presented a woman named Renu Devi, claiming that the names of six members of her family had been deleted from the voters’ list after SIR. However, within 24 hours, that claim was exposed as false, he said, and added that Mr. Gandhi must apologise to the people of the country.

Mr. Saraogi further said that the data Mr. Gandhi relied upon for planning the yatra came from the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS). “Professor Sanjay Kumar of CSDS has already apologised in connection with the Maharashtra election figures, admitting that errors had been made. If the psephologist himself has apologised, will Rahul Gandhi now apologise to the nation?” he asked.

He alleged that the RJD and the Congress had always followed the policy of “take the votes – abandon the people”. Mr. Saraogi pointed out that in reality, both parties are preparing excuses in advance for their defeat in the upcoming Assembly election by protesting against SIR.

‘Booth capturing under Cong.’

The BJP leader also alleged that during the Congress’s rule, vote theft was institutionalised, and many incidents of booth capturing took place. Taking a jibe at the INDIA bloc, Mr. Saraogi said it is making a mockery of the Constitution by taking out a yatra in the name of voter’s rights.

He also claimed that the Opposition is in panic because “infiltrators’ names” are being removed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Making a scathing attack at RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Mr. Saraogi said the “convicted criminal” has no moral right to question constitutional institutions. This so-called “Voter Adhikar Yatra” is nothing but a fraudulent exercise, he added.