Will not allow a single vote theft in Bihar, says Priyanka as she joins Rahul Gandhi's march

Patna: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday joined her brother Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, during the latter’s ‘Voters Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar which resumed at Supaul after a day’s break.

Sitting on the roof of an SUV, Priyanka, flanked by Rahul, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and others, waved at the massive crowd which had assembled to have a look at the brother-sister duo, who virtually kickstarted the poll campaign in Bihar.

Lashing out at the BJP, Priyanka said the party which "has lost trust of the people" wants to retain power through "vote theft". “Millions of people have been denied their voting rights in the name of SIR (Special Intensive Revision). But we will not allow a single vote of the poor to be stolen,” said Priyanka, launching a scathing attack on the saffron brigade.

Hindutva card

The AICC general secretary's visit is significant in the sense that on Wednesday she will visit Sitamarhi and offer her prayers at the much-revered Janaki Temple. This is the same temple for which Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of a grand Sita Temple in Sitamarhi earlier this month. As per the mythology, Sita, daughter of Lord Janak, is also called Janaki.

The I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders have planned Priyanka’s visit in such a way so as to neutralise the BJP’s Hindutva agenda. The mammoth crowd, particularly comprising women, which gathered during Priyanka’s yatra on Tuesday, gave the I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders the much-needed boost to take on their opponents.

“We all are united in our fight against the NDA and the results will be fruitful. We will not allow the Election Commission to work at the behest of the BJP and will ensure no genuine voter is left out in Bihar,” said Rahul who is on his 16-day yatra in the poll-bound state and will conclude his march with a grand rally in Patna on September 1.

Six-term MP Pappu Yadav, an Independent Lok Sabha member from Purnia, also threw his weight behind Rahul-Priyanka’s yatra at Supaul from where Pappu Yadav’s wife Ranjeet Ranjan was earlier a Lok Sabha member. The RJD and the CPI-ML workers were also seen working hand in hand.