Rahul Gandhi to join Bihar bandh on July 9 against electoral roll revision, labour codes

With the State Assembly elections just months away, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Patna on Wednesday (July 9, 2025), to join State-wide bandh called by Opposition parties over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls,new labour code and deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar.

“Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is to visit Patna on July 9 to join Bihar bandh protest called by the Opposition parties”, was announced on Monday at a joint press conference addressed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, State Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar, and leaders from three Left parties.

Mr. Gandhi, earlier, had been visiting poll-bound Bihar on other occasions.

“Mr. Gandhi may also visit the residence of the businessman who was recently shot dead outside the gate of his Patna residence”, said a State Congress leader on the condition of anonymity.

Following the murder of a businessman, Gopal Khemka, Mr. Gandhi had earlier slammed the ruling NDA government, alleging that the State had become the “crime capital” of the country and there had been “goondaraj”.

“We’ll be with Rahul Gandhi in Patna, but the protest will be held across the State over the new labour code and SIR of the electoral roll, which is an assault on democracy”, said Mr. Yadav. Mr Yadav has also dubbed the SIR exercise in the state as “votebandi” referring to “notebandi” (demonetisation). While the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions challenging the SIR on July 10, the exercise has already created a “state of confusion” among voters, he said,

Assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled for October–November this year. The State has 7.89 crore registered voters, including more than 3 crore migrants, primarily from the flood-prone districts of north Bihar such as Saharsa, Madhepura, Supaul, Araria, Katihar, Purnia, and Kishanganj.

The SIR exercise began on June 24 and will continue for a month till July 25. “We demand that this exercise (SIR) should be put on hold till elections to ward off inconvenience and confusion among voters of the State”, Mr. Yadav added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to visit Bihar again on July 18 to address a public meeting at Motihari in East Champaran district.