On a charged afternoon in Sasaram, Bihar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took to the stage to deliver a fiery address that echoed well beyond the boundaries of the rally grounds. The date was August 17, 2025, and the occasion marked the launch of the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra,' a campaign that, at least in Kharge's eyes, was about far more than just votes—it was about the very soul of Indian democracy.
Standing before a crowd of supporters and flanked by prominent local leaders, Kharge did not mince words. According to The Economic Times, he asserted, "As long as the BJP-led government is in power, the Constitution is under threat and people's rights are not safe." It was a statement that set the tone for the rest of his remarks, which would go on to challenge not only the ruling party at the Centre but also the very institutions tasked with safeguarding India's electoral process.
Kharge's speech, as reported by National Herald, was laced with accusations aimed squarely at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. He alleged that the BJP-led government was actively trying to "snatch the right to vote," a claim that resonated with many in the audience who have grown increasingly wary of recent political developments. The Congress president went further, accusing the Election Commission (EC) of acting as an "agent of the Modi government." Such a charge, particularly in the midst of an election season, is bound to stir debate and draw scrutiny from both supporters and critics alike.
"The EC is working like an agent of the Modi government," Kharge declared. These words, carried by National Herald, underscored a growing mistrust between opposition parties and the country's electoral watchdog. For many in the crowd, the implication was clear: the very mechanisms meant to guarantee free and fair elections were, in Kharge's view, compromised.
But Kharge's criticism did not stop at the present-day government or its institutions. He also reached back into the annals of history to take aim at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an organization with deep ties to the BJP. According to The Economic Times, Kharge recounted, "The PM praised RSS and said that it has been serving the nation for the last 100 years... But this organisation worked with the British. They supported those who were against India's freedom." This charge sought to cast doubt on the RSS's nationalist credentials, suggesting that its legacy was not as unblemished as some would claim.
The RSS, for its part, has long maintained that it played a positive role in India's development and has consistently denied accusations of collaborating with colonial powers. However, Kharge's remarks were a pointed reminder of the ongoing battle over historical narratives—a battle that, in Indian politics, is seldom far from the surface.
Throughout his speech, Kharge positioned the Congress party as the stalwart defender of democracy and individual rights. "Congress always fought for people's rights and will continue to do so," he affirmed, as quoted by National Herald. This refrain, repeated at various points in his address, was as much a rallying cry as it was a statement of intent. For Kharge, the Congress party's legacy of fighting for civil liberties is a key differentiator in an increasingly crowded and contentious political landscape.
The context for Kharge's remarks is crucial. Bihar, a state with a complex political history and a reputation for fiercely contested elections, is gearing up for assembly polls that many believe could reshape the state's—and perhaps the nation's—political future. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP at both the Centre and in the state, faces mounting challenges from a resurgent opposition. According to both The Economic Times and National Herald, Kharge predicted, "the NDA government in the state will be 'thrown out' by the people in the coming assembly polls." It was a bold forecast, and one that will be tested in the months ahead.
Kharge's speech did not occur in a vacuum. It came at a time when the political temperature across India is rising, with issues such as electoral integrity, the independence of institutions, and the safeguarding of constitutional rights dominating public discourse. For many, the Congress president's remarks tapped into broader anxieties about the direction of Indian democracy. His assertion that "the Constitution is under threat" is not merely a political slogan but a reflection of deep-seated concerns among segments of the population who fear that hard-won rights and freedoms are at risk.
The BJP and its allies, for their part, have consistently rejected such allegations. They argue that the government remains committed to upholding the Constitution and that accusations of institutional bias are politically motivated. Supporters of the BJP point to the party's electoral successes and its emphasis on development and national security as evidence of its popular mandate and legitimacy. They also highlight reforms aimed at streamlining governance and boosting economic growth, framing these as necessary steps for a modern, robust India.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has repeatedly asserted its independence and adherence to the rule of law. Officials from the EC have dismissed claims of partiality, citing the body's constitutional mandate and its longstanding role as a neutral arbiter of the electoral process. Nonetheless, the perception of bias—whether justified or not—remains a potent political weapon, especially in the heat of an election campaign.
Kharge's invocation of history, particularly his critique of the RSS, is emblematic of a broader contest over national identity and collective memory. The question of who fought for India's freedom, and who may have stood on the sidelines or even opposed it, is a recurring theme in Indian politics. By linking the RSS to the British colonial regime, Kharge sought to draw a sharp contrast between the Congress's self-proclaimed legacy of resistance and the BJP's ideological roots.
For many observers, the stakes in Bihar's upcoming assembly polls go beyond the fate of individual parties. The election is seen as a bellwether for national trends, a test of whether opposition forces can mount a credible challenge to the BJP's dominance. Kharge's speech, with its blend of historical references and urgent warnings about the present, was clearly designed to galvanize supporters and frame the contest as a struggle for the very future of Indian democracy.
As the campaign season unfolds, it is likely that the themes raised by Kharge—constitutional integrity, electoral fairness, and the defense of individual rights—will remain at the forefront of political debate. Whether these arguments will sway voters in Bihar, or elsewhere in India, remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the battle for the country's political soul is far from over, and voices like Kharge's will continue to shape the conversation in the weeks and months ahead.
In the end, the rally in Sasaram was more than just a campaign event—it was a microcosm of the larger contest over India's identity, values, and vision for the future. As the assembly polls approach, all eyes will be on Bihar to see whether Kharge's predictions come true and what that might mean for the rest of the nation.
