Patna: Congress leader and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) national incharge Kanhaiya Kumar, along with Pappu Yadav, who is an independent MP from Purnia Lok Sabha constituency, on July 9 were snubbed by security from boarding a van during the Mahagathbandhan protest against electoral roll revision in poll-bound Bihar.
The incident occurred when both leaders attempted to board the van carrying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, but were stopped by security guards.
Videos of the incident show Kanhaiya Kumar and Pappu Yadav being prevented from joining Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav on the van, sparking speculation about internal conflicts within the alliance.
Reacting to the incident, Pappu Yadav however said that the issue at hand is not about humiliation or respect, but rather about maintaining a connection with the electorate.
“I fell down and got hurt. One leader from each party was present there, but this is not an insult. Who sees this as what it depends on them… Nothing is greater than the public; it is acceptable to be insulted for them, not just once but even a million times,” said Yadav
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, says, "I fell down and got hurt. One leader from each party was present there, but this is not an insult. Who sees this as what it depends on them… Nothing is greater than the public; it is acceptable to be… https://t.co/JHW5RlgUyh pic.twitter.com/dx1GqqP7ta
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
The rally was part of the grand alliance’s (Mahagathbandhan) protest against the Election Commission’s decision to conduct a special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, ahead of the state assembly elections.
The voter revision drive being conducted by the ECI has stirred a political row with leaders of grand alliance accusing the NDA for using ECI to remove the names of poor from the voter list.
The NDA leaders on the other hand have hit back at opposition, stating that the grand alliance leaders wanted to do politics on the shoulders of people who registered themselves as voters wrongfully.
Meanwhile petitions challenging the ECI drive have also been filed before the SC with hearing on the revision exercise scheduled on July 10.
The ECI on Wednesday however took to X and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting every Indian’s right to vote by highlighting Article 326 of the Constitution, which guarantees universal adult suffrage.
Article 326 ensures that every Indian citizen above 18 years of age can vote unless disqualified due to non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime, or corrupt practices. This provision underscores India’s commitment to broader democratic participation and was instrumental in lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years in 1989.
The ECI emphasised its dedication to upholding constitutional principles by adhering to Article 326 and Section 16 of the Representation of People Act, 1950. The commission has stated that it will “scrupulously” follow these provisions during the revision of electoral rolls, ensuring that no eligible citizen is disenfranchised.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has posted an image on its ‘X’ account highlighting Article 326 of the Constitution of India, which mandates universal adult suffrage, ensuring every Indian citizen above 18 years of age can vote unless disqualified.
𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟯𝟮𝟲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 #𝗕𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗿 #𝗦𝗜𝗥 #𝗘𝗖𝗜 pic.twitter.com/o0TCgDCYg9
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) July 9, 2025
“Article 326 – Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage. The elections to the House of the People and the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage, that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than eighteen years of age on such date as may be fixed in that behalf by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature and is not otherwise disqualified under this Constitution or any law made by the appropriate Legislature on the ground of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such election,” posted by ECI on X. ( With inputs from ANI)
