Chennai: In a significant display of opposition unity, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader M.K. Stalin travelled to Bihar on Wednesday to join Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ (Voters’ Rights March). The move is seen as a strong gesture of support from the southern ally to the Congress-led campaign, amplifying a pan-Indian protest against the Election Commission of India’s recent revision of the electoral roll in Bihar, which has purportedly removed millions of voters.
The assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to be held by the end of this year, and the political climate has been intensely charged following the election body’s actions. The Chief Minister’s participation underscores the deepening coordination between national and regional opposition parties ahead of crucial state polls and sets the stage for their alliance in the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu elections.
The Core of the Controversy
The controversy stems from the Election Commission of India’s ongoing “Special Summary Revision” of the voter list in Bihar. Opposition parties have launched severe criticisms against the process because it does not accept Aadhaar cards or Voter ID cards as valid proof of citizenship for registration. This decision, they allege, has led to the exclusion of a staggering 65 lakh (6.5 million) voters from the electoral rolls.
This action has triggered a massive political storm, escalating beyond Bihar to the national stage. Opposition parties have vehemently protested, alleging that the move is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise a large section of the electorate. They accuse the Election Commission of acting in concert with the central BJP government to manipulate the electoral outcome in the upcoming assembly polls. The issue has paralyzed proceedings in Parliament, with opposition members staging protests, and has also been challenged through legal petitions filed in the Supreme Court.
A Strategic Display of Alliance Strength
In direct response to this, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, commenced the ‘Voters’ Rights Yatra’ across Bihar on August 17th. The march has been drawing large crowds, with lakhs of people participating to protest the removal of their names from the voter list.
Adding considerable weight to this campaign, Chief Minister Stalin departed from Chennai at 7:00 AM today. After arriving at the Darbhanga airport in Bihar, he proceeded to join Rahul Gandhi on the march at approximately 10:30 AM via National Highway 57. Stalin is also scheduled to address a public meeting, rallying support for the cause. DMK deputy general secretary and Thoothukudi MP, Kanimozhi, is also participating in the event, highlighting the importance the DMK attaches to the issue.
Following the march, Stalin is expected to depart from Darbhanga airport at 4:30 PM and return to Chennai by evening. His journey, though brief, sends a powerful political message. Analysts view this as a strategic effort to fortify the Congress-DMK alliance, not just for the immediate battle in Bihar but also as a foundation for a united front in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections.