Opposition Brands Bharat Bandh a Fight for Democracy

Patna, 9 July 2025:

The INDIA bloc comprising Congress, RJD, CPI(M), alongside other parties, actively supported the Bharat  Bandh by highlighting both labour concerns and what they termed a threat to electoral democracy in Bihar. The emphasis on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, seen as politically motivated ahead of the state elections, added a potent electoral dimension to the strike.

Around 10 am, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav and other leaders led a high profile chakka jam protest in Patna, marching through Income Tax Golambar to the Election Commission office. Gandhi cautioned there would be repeat of so called vote theft occurred in the elections in Maharashtra, saying that SIR may lead to disenfranchisement of two crore voters, the poor, Dalits, Adivasis and migrants.

At the same time protestors imposed road blocks in the city. At Gandhi Setu, which is an important link connecting north Bihar, RJD supporters torch tyres and stalled traffic. Later in the afternoon RJD and student activists derailed services in Jehanabad, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Hajipur, by blocking the tracks in an attempt to increase the effects of the bandh. There was video evidence of fans jumping onto the tracks and, as a result, police rerouted trains temporarily.

Patna University student activists also participated and burnt tyres on Ashok Rajpath, and raised slogans seeking protection of the voting rights. The voices of student bodies and youth, in form of Kanhaiya Kumar, instructed: “We will not speak in the streets, the democracy may die silent death,” said Kanhaiya Kumar calling on people to be alert.

A political response was instantaneous. Heads of BJP and JDU termed the bandh as a politically backed stunt. JDU MLA Haribhushan Thakur alleged that it was damaging the small scale business and discriminately attacked the image of Bihar. On the other hand, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram and the local INDIA bloc leaders held that the protest was a democratic right. Ram said: “Every time the nation has been in a state of crisis, Rahul Gandhi has been seen competing in the streets, thereby emphasising the seriousness of the problem.

Security was increased by a great margin. The East Central Railway has increased manpower and CCTV coverage in the important stations such as Patna Junction, Rajendra Nagar, Danapur and Patliputra stations. The strong police patrol was needed to prevent all sabotage and peace especially on the roads and bridges hit by the protesters.

The INDIA bloc launched the Bharat 2019 Bandh into a bigger political movement by combining the demands of the workers with the right of the voters before the Bihar elections. Street level protests may become much intense as the SIR process drags on and lawsuits being considered. As of now, the demonstration has already redefined the space of debate, forcing the election leaders as well as the government state to give heed to the issues raised, lest the political climate becomes hotter.