Congress workers participating in the Bihar Bandh lay down in a line on busy roads to block vehicles from passing. The bandh was called by the Mahagathbandhan to protest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list ahead of the 2025 state Assembly elections.
Congress Protesters Lie Down On The Road During Bihar Bandh
During the bandh, a Congress worker lying on the road to block traffic declared, entire Bihar has been successfully shut down. The Mahagathbandhan is united against the rigging done by the Election Commission… We will not get up even if a car tramples us…”. The protest is aimed at opposing alleged unfair practices by the Election Commission ahead of the upcoming elections.
Rail and road transport came to a standstill across several parts of Bihar on Wednesday as opposition workers enforced the statewide bandh. The shutdown, organized by the Mahagathbandhan alliance, stated their objection to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.
Opposition leaders, including Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, and other members of the INDIA bloc, are scheduled to lead a march to the Election Commission’s office in Patna as part of their agitation. Demonstrators on Patna’s Mahatma Gandhi Setu set tyres on fire, bringing vehicular movement on the key bridge to a halt.
MP Rajesh Ranjan Leads Rail and Road Traffic Disruption in Bihar
Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, along with his supporters, actively disrupted traffic by gathering at Sachiwalay Halt railway station and attempting to block train services. His supporters also blocked rail and road traffic in Patna and several other districts including Araria, Purnea, Katihar, and Muzaffarpur.
Speaking to reporters in Patna, Yadav criticised the Election Commission’s revision efforts, stating, “The Election Commission, through its special intensive revision of electoral rolls, is snatching voting rights from migrants, Dalits, Mahadalits, and poor voters. It’s a conspiracy to block votes ahead of the Bihar assembly polls due later this year.”
Protests Spread Across Bihar Districts in Support of Bandh
In addition to Patna, protesters from the RJD, Congress, CPI(ML) Liberation, and CPM organized roadblocks and tyre burnings in Arwal, Jehanabad, and Darbhanga in solidarity with the bandh.
Meanwhile, authorities have implemented strict security measures to ensure the smooth conduct of bypolls for nagar panchayats in various parts of Patna district despite the ongoing unrest.
