INDIA Bloc’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ Gains Steam
The opposition INDIA bloc’s “Voter Adhikar Yatra” culminated today in Patna with a powerful “Gandhi se Ambedkar” march led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, who vowed to resist what they call “vote theft”. During the event, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav was hinted as the bloc’s CM candidate, sparking speculation about leadership ahead of the polls. The rally also saw participation from Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, who endorsed Tejashwi as a worthy future Chief Minister.
Election Commission Faces Heat Over SIR Process
Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls continues to stir controversy. Critics allege mass deletion of voters, while the Supreme Court has ordered the ECI to make public the names deleted and reasons for deletion. Opposition leaders like Tejashwi accuse the process of targeting real voters—claiming many living citizens were wrongly marked as deceased. Meanwhile, the ECI has also received nearly 30,000 inclusion requests, as new 18+ electors seek registration following SIR.
Welfare Push Ahead of Voting
As elections approach, Nitish Kumar's cabinet has approved the Chief Minister Women’s Employme
nt Scheme, offering startup aid to one woman per family to kickstart businesses. This, along with raised pension benefits, is seen as strategic outreach to mobilize support among women voters.
Political Tensions Escalate
From the saffron camp, BJP leader Samrat Choudhary accused Rahul Gandhi of being "unaware of India’s culture," mocking his attire and local insensitivity, while pledging to deport infiltrators and praising new industrial policies. Simultaneously, the LJP (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan, is gearing up for a grand rally—the “Nav Sankalp Mahasabha”—scheduled for September 4 in Muzaffarpur, signaling intent to contest all 243 seats, potentially unsettling NDA’s internal balance.
Seat Projections Favor NDA — But Surprises Loom
Recent opinion polls favor the NDA, projecting a possible 136-seat win out of 243, comfortably exceeding the majority mark of 122. The BJP itself is forecast to increase its tally from 74 to 81 seats, while JD(U)’s projections shrink from 43 to 31 seats. On the INDIA bloc side, RJD may secure 52 seats, and Congress just 10. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj—the new entrant—could win 2 seats, adding an unpredictable element to the fray.
Emerging Dynamics & What to Watch
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CM Face Clarity: Will INDIA publicly back Tejashwi as CM candidate? The symbolic staging during the Patna march suggests increasing likelihood.
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SIR Fallout: With Supreme Court scrutiny and thousands filing corrections, how will electoral rolls shape voter turnout and sentiment?
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Welfare vs. Campaigning: Development promises—like the women's scheme—may sway crucial voter blocks, especially in rural constituencies.
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Alliance Realignments: LJP’s bid to contest independently may affect NDA's unity projections. Similarly, Jan Suraaj entering the fray challenges traditional vote banks.
