Tejashwi set to embark on Bihar Adhikar Yatra

After the success of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s 14-day Voter Adhikar Yatra in poll-bound Bihar, which crisscrossed about 110 Assembly constituencies across 24 districts, INDIA bloc ally Rashtriya Janata Dal’s leader Tejashwi Yadav is all set to embark on a five-day Bihar Adhikar Yatra from September 16 in Jehanabad district that would culminate in Vaishali district on September 20.

The yatra led by the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly would be covering 10 districts, which were untouched during Mr. Gandhi’s yatra. “Tejashwi Yadav will be undertaking Bihar Adhikar Yatra (Bihar Rights March) from Jehanabad district on September 16 and it will culminate in Vaishali district on September 20,” party leader and Morwa MLA Ranvijay Sahu told the media on Friday. “All the party MPs, MLAs, district presidents and other leaders of the respective districts have been informed to be present during Tejashwi Yadav’s visit in their area,” he added.

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Mr. Yadav, who is also widely considered to be the chief ministerial candidate of the Opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), would also address a public meeting in each constituency during his visit.

Covering 60 seats

The five-day Bihar Adhikar Yatra will cover the districts of Jehanabad, Nalanda, Patna, Begusarai, Khagaria, Madhepura, Saharsa, Supaul, Samastipur and Vaishali, said Mr. Sahu who is also the party’s State principal general secretary. About 60 Assembly constituencies will be covered during the journey.

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“Tejashwi ji will interact with people during his yatra and we request them for their support to make the yatra successful,” added Mr. Sahu, who further said that Mr. Yadav would be touring the districts left untouched during the Voter Adhikar Yatra.

The Voter Adhikar Yatra, which is said to have garnered wide attention and support, had crisscrossed about 110 Assembly constituencies out of a total 243 in the State covering 1,300 kilometres. It was concluded with a padyatra (foot march) by Mr. Gandhi and other alliance party leaders in Patna on September 1 from Gandhi Maidan to B.R. Ambedkar’s statue, near Patna High Court.

Public meet in Patna

However, the Mahagathbandhan leaders are likely to hold a public meeting at Gandhi Maidan before elections in which all alliance party leaders would be present. Earlier, the Mahagathbandhan leaders had alleged that since they had not got the “required permission” from district authorities to hold the rally they could not organise it in Patna. “But, we’ll organise it (public meeting) at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan soon,” said a senior Congress party leader, preferring anonymity.

“Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra had, undoubtedly, created a buzz for the party in Bihar’s politics ahead of the polls and Tejashwi Yadav might have sensed it to embark on Bihar Adhikar Yatra in districts, which were not covered earlier to keep the momentum for the Opposition alliance in Bihar,” said political analyst Nawal Kishore Choudhary, while adding “but how successful these yatraswere electorally, would only be known after the polls”.