
09/07/2025
On Wednesday, the Mahagathbandhan called for a statewide bandh in Bihar to protest against the Election Commission’s voter verification process. The protest caused widespread disruption as trains were stopped in seven cities and twelve national highways were blocked, creating long traffic jams.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Patna from Delhi to participate in the protest. He was joined by Tejashwi Yadav and Pappu Yadav. The leaders took part in a rally and then proceeded by car from Income Tax Square towards the Election Commission’s office.
As they neared the office, the police stopped them near the Secretariat police station by setting up barricades. They were not allowed to go further. The Election Commission’s office was only 150 meters away. Party workers tried to push through the barricades but were stopped by the police.
Speaking near the barricade, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission was attempting to manipulate the electoral process in Bihar, similar to what he claimed happened in Maharashtra. He accused the EC of siding with the BJP and RSS and warned that the law would hold them accountable.
The bandh had a heavy impact across Bihar. Trains were halted at railway stations in Darbhanga, Bhojpur, Supaul, Jehanabad, Patna, and Munger. Major highways were blocked in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Katihar, Supaul, Madhepura, Motihari, Vaishali, Patna, and Aurangabad, stranding people in traffic for hours.
More than six parties took part in the Bihar Bandh, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, Left parties, VIP Party, and the Jan Adhikar Party led by Pappu Yadav. The protest displayed a show of unity by the opposition alliance against the Election Commission’s recent actions.