**Title:** Controversy Erupts During Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar
**Meta Description:** Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra faces backlash after a woman retracts claims about missing names on the voter list, revealing misinformation.
**URL Slug:** rahul-gandhi-voter-adhikar-yatra-bihar-controversy
**Headline:** Controversy Surrounds Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar as Claims of Missing Voter Names are Debunked
In a recent turn of events during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, a controversy has emerged involving a woman who initially claimed her family’s names were absent from the voter list. Ranju Devi, a resident of Chapla village, was introduced to Gandhi on August 17 during his extensive 1,300-kilometre march aimed at highlighting alleged discrepancies in Bihar’s electoral rolls. In front of cameras, she asserted that six members of her family were missing from the voter list.
However, in a subsequent conversation with India Today/Aaj Tak, Ranju Devi clarified that her family had been misled regarding their voter registration status. She confirmed that her family’s names were indeed on the rolls and stated that she had spoken out under the direction of local officials. “We’re simple village folk. We said what we were told,” she explained.
Her husband, Sudhir Ram, supported her statement, attributing the confusion to ward officers who had informed them that their names were not listed. “The ward member and the ward secretary told us that our family’s names are not on the voter list. So we got very scared. Those people took us to Rahul Gandhi. It was only later that we found out that our names are on the voter list,” he said.
The Election Commission of India (EC) also weighed in, confirming that Ranju Devi and her family were indeed listed as voters. This incident has caused embarrassment for Gandhi and the Congress party, who have been vocal about alleged voter disenfranchisement, accusing the EC and the BJP of collusion in the electoral process.
Gandhi’s campaign, supported by allies in the INDIA bloc, has been critical of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which they claim is an attempt to manipulate voter registration ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The EC has defended the SIR, stating it was necessary due to the lack of updates since 2004, which had resulted in numerous duplicate entries. The initiative aims to remove ineligible names and prevent individuals from holding multiple voter cards.
Despite this setback, Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ continues, set to traverse over 20 districts, including Gaya, Nalanda, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Darbhanga, and Champaran, culminating in a rally in Patna on September 1. The Congress MP launched the yatra from Sasaram, labeling the voter roll revision in Bihar as an attempt to “steal votes” ahead of the elections later this year.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What is the main objective of Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra?**
A: The Voter Adhikar Yatra aims to highlight alleged irregularities in Bihar’s voter rolls and advocate for voter rights ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
