Patna: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will kickstart his padyatra in Patna on Monday to mark the culmination of his Voter Adhikar Yatra that covered at least 25 districts in last 15 days and covered 1,300 km distance alleging vote chori (vote theft).
Rahul Gandhi had kickstarted his Voter Adhikar Yatra from Bihar's Sasaram on August 17 with all the top leaders of the Mahagatbandhan in attendance and covered districts of Aurangabad, Gayaji, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Purnea, Supaul, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Motihari, Bettiah, Saran and Bhojpur.
The Congress has named the Monday padyatra as 'Gandhi se Ambedkar', that will start from Gandhi Maidan's Mahatma Gandhi statue with Rahul Gandhi and several other top leaders of the Mahagatbandhan including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, Vikashsheel Insan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni and Left party leader Deepankar Bhattacharya.
The Congress said that the yatra will start from Gandhi Maidan after paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and then cross via S.P. Verma Road, Dak Bungalow Chauraha, Kotwali Thana, Nehru Path, Income Tax Chauraha and then reach Baba Saheb Ambedkar Park near Patna high Court.
The Mahagatbandhan leaders will then pay floral tributes to Baba Saheb Ambedkar at the Ambedkar Park.
The padyatra will conclude with a public address over the alleged vote theft.
The Congress and the Mahagatbandhan during the yatra in the last 15 days has conveyed the message of voter theft in Bihar and highlighted the collusion of the Election Commission with the BJP.
The Congress had changed its strategy from holding a mega rally to padyatra.
During the yatra, several INDIA bloc leaders have already participated in the yatra so there was no point in assembling everyone for a rally.
Earlier, Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal had said that on September 1, there will a mega rally to drive away the 'vote chors'.
Earlier Congress leader Pawan Khera had said that Rahul’ Gandhi's Yatra will conclude on Monday with a “massive procession” from Gandhi Maidan to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue in Patna.
Khera, who is also the Chairman of the media and publicity department said that the yatra has been like a religious pilgrimage in which people of all faiths have been taking part to save their votes.
"On September 1, it will conclude with a procession in Patna in which our leaders will march from Gandhi Maidan to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue. It will not be the end, but the beginning of a new yatra towards protecting our democracy,” Khera said adding that “lakhs of people will participate in the padyatra".
Ahead of the padyatra, all the roads have been covered with the posters of Congress and all the Mahagatbandhan parties.
Party has also made adequate arrangements in Patna to make the yatra a success.
