The Congress party, along with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), launched the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' from Sasaram, Bihar, on August 17, 2025. Key leaders participating include Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. The 16-day yatra aims to address alleged voter list discrepancies and claims of vote theft, particularly in Bihar, and will conclude in Patna on September 1. Rahul Gandhi and allies accuse the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing to prevent voter fraud, citing issues such as deletion of names from voter lists, inclusion of fake voters, and manipulation during the Summary Revision (SIR) exercise. Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the Election Commission is complicit in vote theft, accusing it of carrying out the SIR process to steal votes openly. The opposition leaders have called for investigations and transparency, demanding answers about the voter list irregularities. The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, held a press conference in New Delhi to counter these allegations. The ECI stated that the SIR exercise is a routine process aimed at purifying the voter list and has been conducted multiple times in the past 20 years. The Commission emphasized that all political parties had the opportunity to raise objections during the draft list period but no significant objections were filed. It also clarified that allegations of double voting require proof, which has not been provided. The ECI reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and adherence to constitutional provisions, stating that only Indian citizens aged 18 and above have voting rights. The Commission also addressed concerns about voter privacy and the legality of machine-readable voter lists, citing a 2019 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting such lists. The yatra and the ECI's responses have drawn criticism and support from various political figures across parties. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) plans to launch an 18-day series of political events starting August 23 to counter the impact of the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra'. The political discourse reflects deep divisions over election integrity and the role of the Election Commission in India.