PATNA, Aug. 19 -- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, marched ahead on the second day of their Voter Adhikar Yatra with prayers at the historic Deo Sun Temple in Aurangabad, Bihar, before resuming their campaign to expose alleged voter list manipulations ahead of the state's assembly elections. The yatra, which kicked off on August 17 in Sasaram, seeks to highlight what the Opposition describes as a "massive electoral scam" orchestrated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in collusion with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Joined by Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram and CPI(ML) Liberation's general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, the leaders travelled in an open SUV along National Highway 139, waving to enthusiastic crowds and interacting with locals. The route from Aurangabad to Gaya traversed rural areas like Amba, Kutumba, Rafiganj, and Guraru, culminating in a major public meeting at Khalis Park in Gaya by evening. While segments involved walking alongside supporters, the majority was covered by vehicles for security and logistical reasons. Large groups of Congress and RJD workers, waving tricolour and green flags, lined the roads, chanting slogans in favour of voter rights. Throughout the day, Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Yadav, the Opposition leader in the Bihar assembly, engaged with residents who claimed their names were deleted from voter lists during the ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. In a WhatsApp channel post, Gandhi labelled SIR as a "new weapon of vote theft," sharing accounts of affected individuals from Sasaram, including 70-year-old farmer and retired soldier Raj Mohan Singh, 35-year-old Dalit labourer Umravati Devi, 30-year-old backward class labourer Dhananjay Kumar Bind, 45-year-old woman and former MGNREGA labourer Sita Devi, 55-year-old backward class labourer Raju Devi, and 52-year-old minority labourer Mohmuddin Ansari. Gandhi alleged that the BJP-ECI nexus was punishing "Bahujan" and poor communities, not sparing even soldiers, thereby stripping them of votes, identity, and rights. "Due to social discrimination and economic conditions, they are unable to fight against the conspiracy of the system. We stand here with them to protect the most basic right of 'one person, one vote'," Gandhi asserted, emphasising that this is a matter of rights and democratic participation that "we will not let end under any circumstances." In Aurangabad, Gandhi met another group of disenfranchised voters who had participated in the last four to five elections but found their names erased, with officials citing "orders from above." Sharing an over-four-minute video of the interaction, he declared, "This is a fight for the rights of the poor - we will not stop. We will stop vote theft." He criticised the Narendra Modi government for introducing a 2023 law to shield the EC officials from accountability, calling it "completely wrong." Tejashwi Yadav echoed these sentiments, positioning the yatra as a struggle for jobs, reservations, and development in Bihar. "This is about protecting the right to vote, the cornerstone of democracy," he told supporters, highlighting the overwhelming public response. Sahani, addressing the media, noted the diverse turnout: "People from all communities are standing with us; we're getting an incredible response." Videos circulating on social media captured Gandhi blowing flying kisses to adoring crowds, illustrating the yatra's strong grassroots appeal. The yatra builds on its launch rally in Sasaram, where INDIA bloc leaders like RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the ECI of "stealing" votes via SIR. Covering 1,300 kilometers across over 20 districts in 16 days, the hybrid foot-and-vehicle march will pass through Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra, and Ara, before concluding with a grand rally in Patna on September 1, featuring broader opposition involvement. It focuses on areas with high voter deletion reports. In a related event, Congress media department head Pawan Khera and All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the NSUI Kanhaiya Kumar conducted a joint press conference in Gaya, criticising the ECI's inconsistencies in voter data management. Khera challenged the refusal to release CCTV footage from polling stations due to privacy issues, contrasting it with the online upload of a machine-readable voter list for 6.5 million Bihar residents. "If CCTV footage compromises the privacy of mothers and sisters, then how does uploading detailed voter data not do the same?" he questioned, noting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's denial of such lists on August 17 afternoon, followed by their appearance online by August 18 morning. Kumar accused the ECI of undermining public trust, likening Gyanesh Kumar's press conference demeanour to that of a BJP leader and implying bias. "This is a deliberate attempt to undermine democratic institutions," he stated, demanding clarification on the referenced Supreme Court order. The duo called for accountability, encouraging citizens to demand transparency. Khera added that lakhs of people were gathering, reflecting tremendous enthusiasm. The ECI has rebutted these claims, urging Gandhi to submit evidence within seven days or apologize, affirming the SIR process's transparency and inclusivity. BJP leaders, including Bihar Minister and JD(U) figure Ashok Choudhary, labelled the yatra a "political stunt" without merit. Public fervour in Gaya was evident, with farmers, labourers, and marginalised communities flocking to the Khalis Park rally, hopeful for resolution. Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh highlighted the growing wave of support, crediting Gandhi's 1,300-km journey. As Bihar prepares for polls, the yatra has sparked a national debate on electoral integrity, with figures like Akhilesh Yadav offering online banking. Analysts view it as a tactical effort to unify Dalit, minority, and backward votes, potentially altering the political dynamics. The controversy highlights profound worries over institutional credibility, with the opposition pledging to continue until voter rights are upheld. As the yatra proceeds to Nawada on August 19, its influence on Bihar's electoral narrative intensifies....