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Bihar Politics: BJP Leader Mocking Congress' Voter Adhikar Yatra

BJP Leader Ashwini Choubey Mocks Congress's Voter Adhikar Yatra, Predicts It Will Become Party's 'Shavyatra' in Bihar

In a sharp political jab amid the intensifying electoral atmosphere in Bihar, Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini Kumar Choubey has ridiculed the Indian National Congress's planned Voter Adhikar Yatra, asserting that it is destined to transform into a 'Shavyatra'—a funeral procession—for the grand old party in the state. This provocative statement underscores the escalating war of words between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, particularly as Bihar gears up for crucial by-elections and positions itself for the larger 2025 assembly polls.

Choubey, known for his outspoken style and deep roots in Bihar politics, made these remarks during a public address in his constituency, highlighting what he perceives as the Congress party's diminishing relevance and organizational weaknesses in the region. The Voter Adhikar Yatra, announced by the Congress as a statewide campaign to champion voters' rights, address electoral grievances, and mobilize support against alleged anti-people policies of the NDA government, is set to traverse key districts in Bihar. Led by prominent Congress figures including state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh and possibly national leaders like Rahul Gandhi, the yatra aims to spotlight issues such as unemployment, inflation, agrarian distress, and the need for transparent electoral processes. It is positioned as a grassroots movement to reconnect with Bihar's electorate, drawing inspiration from previous successful campaigns like Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, which sought to unify diverse sections of society against perceived divisiveness.

However, Choubey dismissed these ambitions outright, labeling the initiative as a desperate bid by a "dying" party to revive its fortunes in a state where it has been reduced to a marginal player. "The Congress's so-called Voter Adhikar Yatra will soon turn into their Shavyatra in Bihar," he quipped, evoking imagery of a funeral march to symbolize the party's impending political demise. He argued that the Congress lacks a coherent vision, strong leadership, and genuine connect with the masses, pointing to its poor performance in recent elections. In the 2020 Bihar assembly polls, for instance, the Congress contested as part of the Mahagathbandhan alliance but managed to secure only 19 seats out of 243, a stark decline from its historical dominance. Choubey further accused the party of relying on outdated dynastic politics and failing to address the real aspirations of Bihar's youth and farmers, who he claims have benefited immensely from NDA's development schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and agricultural reforms.

This criticism comes at a time when Bihar's political landscape is fraught with alliances and realignments. The NDA, comprising the BJP, Janata Dal (United) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and other smaller partners, holds a firm grip on power, having won a majority in the 2020 elections. In contrast, the opposition bloc, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and left parties, has been attempting to regroup, with leaders like Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD spearheading anti-NDA narratives. The Voter Adhikar Yatra is seen as Congress's attempt to assert its independence within the alliance while expanding its voter base, particularly among marginalized communities, Dalits, and minorities who form a significant portion of Bihar's electorate.

Choubey's remarks also touched upon broader national themes, linking the yatra's potential failure to the Congress's struggles across India. He referenced the party's recent electoral setbacks in states like Haryana and Maharashtra, where internal divisions and lack of innovation have hampered its revival efforts. "The people of Bihar are wise; they won't fall for empty slogans," Choubey stated, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for transforming Bihar from a state plagued by 'jungle raj' under previous regimes to one on the path of progress. He highlighted infrastructure projects like new highways, bridges over the Ganges, and improved connectivity as evidence of NDA's commitment, contrasting it with what he called the Congress's era of corruption and neglect.

Political analysts view Choubey's taunt as a strategic move to preemptively undermine the yatra's momentum and consolidate NDA's narrative of stability and development. In Bihar, where caste dynamics and regional identities play a pivotal role, such verbal sparring is common, but it often influences public perception. The Congress, in response, has hit back through its spokespersons, defending the yatra as a genuine effort to empower voters and expose the NDA's failures, such as rising crime rates, migration of laborers, and inadequate flood management in the state.

As the yatra prepares to kick off, possibly in the coming weeks, it will cover areas like Patna, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, and other hotspots, incorporating public meetings, interactions with local leaders, and digital campaigns to amplify its reach. Congress leaders emphasize that the initiative is not just about electoral gains but about restoring faith in democracy, addressing voter suppression concerns, and advocating for reforms like better implementation of the Right to Information and electoral funding transparency.

Choubey's prediction of a 'Shavyatra' has sparked debates on social media and among political circles, with some seeing it as overconfident bravado from the BJP, while others believe it reflects the ground reality of Congress's challenges in Bihar. The state, with its 40 Lok Sabha seats, remains a crucial battleground for national politics, and the outcome of such campaigns could shape alliances ahead of the 2024 general elections. Whether the Voter Adhikar Yatra revitalizes Congress or indeed becomes its symbolic funeral procession will depend on its execution, public reception, and the opposition's ability to unite against a formidable NDA machinery.

This episode exemplifies the high-stakes rhetoric in Indian politics, where personal barbs often mask deeper ideological battles. As Bihar continues to be a litmus test for parties' strategies, leaders like Choubey are leveraging every opportunity to assert dominance, while the Congress fights to reclaim its lost glory in a state that was once a stronghold. The unfolding drama promises more twists as the yatra progresses, potentially influencing voter sentiment in unexpected ways. (Word count: 928)

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