Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra Revives Echoes of Indira in Bihar’s Heartland
Caught in the fervour of Jayaprakash Narayan’s ‘Total Revolution’, Bihar emerged as the epicentre of the dismantling of Indira Gandhi’s Congress government in 1977. Yet, in a twist of irony, the same state orchestrated her triumphant return to power in 1980.
Veterans vividly recall Indira Gandhi’s dramatic journey to Belchi, a village ravaged by a massacre, nestled 90 kilometres southeast of Patna, surrounded by monsoon floods and tall grass thickets. Riding an elephant, she arrived with folded hands, her forehead veiled by a ghunghat, stepping into the quiet hamlet.
The impoverished villagers, predominantly Dalits, chanted in unison, “Aadhi roti khayeinge, Indira ko bulayeinge (We’ll eat half a roti, but call Indira back)”. In an era without television or the internet, this slogan reverberated across Bihar’s hinterlands, signaling Congress’s stunning resurgence, just as its crushing defeat three years prior had marked a chapter in post-independence India’s political history.
Rahul Gandhi’s current odyssey through Bihar bears a striking resemblance to his grandmother’s journey in many respects. The state was instrumental in Congress’s victory over A.B. Vajpayee’s government in 2004, paving the way for the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government to govern for two consecutive terms. However, Narendra Modi’s ascent in 2014 mirrored Congress’s 1977 collapse in the state.
Today, Rahul tours a Bihar where Congress languishes in poor health, much like it did when Indira traversed the state over four decades ago.
To the delight of the Grand Old Party, Rahul is attracting vibrant crowds filled with hope and admiration. His 'Voters’ Adhikar Yatra' began in Sasaram (Rohtas district) on August 17, covering Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Jamui, and Bhagalpur – all south of the Ganga.
On August 23, he entered Katihar in the Seemanchal region of north Bihar, where he will engage with locals over the next few days. “Rahul is receiving an overwhelming response. Young and old, men and women, look to him with hope and goodwill wherever he goes. He connects with ordinary people, free of arrogance,” observed Kanhaiya Bhelari, a Patna-based journalist covering Rahul’s yatra.
Rahul has quickly become a household name in Bihar, according to Vijay Tiwary, a former state government official.
“It’s time to oust the current government and install Rahul Gandhi as prime minister. The nation, fractured by toxic communalism and hatred, desperately needs a change in leadership,” Tiwary added.
Rahul vs. Modi
Bihar is gearing up for assembly elections later this year. Public anger simmers over the deletion of 65 lakh names from electoral rolls due to the Election Commission’s controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which many view as having lost credibility. Amid an atmosphere of despair and fear, the political landscape is increasingly shaping up as a ‘Rahul Gandhi versus Narendra Modi’ contest, with incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar fading into the background, nearly invisible and voiceless.
Several locals, in conversations with this writer, affirmed that Rahul enjoys far greater goodwill and public response.
“Spontaneous crowds flock to see Rahul, while Modi’s rallies rely heavily on government officials and party cadres busing in ASHA workers, teachers, and low-level employees. The spontaneity that once defined Modi’s events is now absent,” they noted.
Despite the Rahul-Modi narrative, Rahul embodies a spirit of inclusivity and coalition-building. Leaders like Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(ML)-Liberation’s Dipankar Bhattacharya and Vikassheel Insaan Party’s Mukesh Sahni – key allies in the Indian National Inclusive Development Alliance – accompany him, receiving due respect and space on his platform.
In contrast to Modi’s rallies, which dominate mainstream media, TV channels and social media through orchestrated coverage and troll attacks on BJP’s opponents, Rahul’s yatra receives modest or negligible attention in newspapers and on television. “But the ground reality tells a different story. People love Rahul Gandhi and fear Narendra Modi – it’s that simple,” said B.K. Tiwary, an advocate at Siwan court, adding, “We eagerly await Rahul Gandhi’s visit to our region.”
Seasoned observers of Bihar’s politics note that Rahul is carving a niche among marginalised communities and minorities, historically the backbone of Congress’s support. Additionally, upper-caste voters, increasingly disillusioned with the BJP, are also turning their gaze toward Rahul.
Then and now
It remains uncertain whether Tejashwi Yadav’s Mahagathbandhan will unseat Nitish Kumar’s NDA in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. However, Rahul Gandhi has undeniably left a mark on the dusty and muddy trails of Bihar this time around.
A transformed Rahul has emerged.
In 2014, during the Lok Sabha elections, this writer, then reporting for The Telegraph, visited Belchi – the village where the iconic “ Indira ko bulayeinge” slogan was born in 1980. At the time, few in Belchi knew of Rahul Gandhi.
“Now, people would take offense if you suggested they don’t know Rahul Gandhi,” remarked Munna Shahi, a senior Congress leader from Patna.
Rahul’s yatra across Bihar has tangibly shifted the public’s mood, infusing it with renewed energy and hope. Yet, recent election results have often failed to mirror such sentiments, making predictions challenging at this juncture. The outcomes in Haryana and Maharashtra have left few observers bold enough to make definitive forecasts.
Nalin Verma is a journalist, author and media educator. His latest book, ‘Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath’, was co-authored with Lalu Prasad Yadav.
This article went live on August twenty-third, two thousand twenty five, at zero minutes past six in the evening.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
