In a recent statement, Lok Sabha MP Pappu Yadav claimed that the Voter Adhikar Yatra held in Bihar was mostly attended by supporters of the Congress party. He said that around 90% of the crowd consisted of Congress workers and fans of Rahul Gandhi. According to Yadav, participation from allies like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and others was less than 10%.
Yadav spoke to in Delhi and shared his view that the Yatra has boosted confidence in the Congress among people in Bihar. “Rahul Gandhi has a strong connection with Biharis,” he said. He mentioned that during the final rally in Patna on September 1, it was clear that Congress-led the event. Though leaders like Hemant Soren, Sanjay Raut, and Mamata Banerjee’s representatives joined, the crowd mainly supported Rahul Gandhi.
Yadav also talked about whether the Yatra helped Congress regain ground in Bihar. He believes Rahul Gandhi’s efforts have awakened the party’s workers and conveyed that vote theft will not be tolerated. He emphasized that Congress workers are now more confident but should learn to stand independently, instead of relying heavily on allies like the RJD.
The MP highlighted that this Yatra covered 29 districts and was Rahul Gandhi’s fourth major campaign to connect with the people. He praised the history of yatras in strengthening Indian democracy, from Chandrashekhar to Gandhi. Yadav pointed out that Rahul Gandhi has traveled thousands of kilometres, focusing on key issues like demonetisation, GST, caste census, and voter rights. He also mentioned that even Union Minister Nitin Gadkari admitted that some votes from Gandhi’s family were deleted, showing how significant this campaign was for the common man.
When asked about his relationship with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Yadav clarified there was no hostility. “We respect Tejashwi ji. We may have different ideas sometimes, but the entire Mahagathbandhan is united. Still, this Yatra was mainly about Rahul Gandhi,” he said.
Yadav also dismissed claims that he was sidelined during the event. He insisted, “That’s false. During the 17-day Yatra, we were together. Congress led the rally, and the RJD’s presence was minimal — less than 10%.”
Regarding seat-sharing in elections, he said that the focus should not just be on numbers. “We are not aiming for 60-70 seats. What matters is getting good seats for minorities, EBCs, SCs, and upper castes. The key is respect and cooperation within the alliance, not just bargaining for seats,” Yadav explained.
This Yatra has been seen as an important step for the Congress in Bihar, aiming to reconnect with voters and strengthen its position in the state.
