Purnea: A startling incident unfolded during the "Voter Adhikar Yatra" when an overzealous supporter managed to breach security and kiss Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while he was riding a motorcycle through crowded roads in Purnea. The fans affectionate gesture, captured on video, prompted an immediate response from Gandhi’s security detail, who forcibly removed the individual from the rally route, with one bodyguard slapping him before escorting him away .
The motorcycle segment of the yatra presented challenges for security personnel, as crowd control became increasingly difficult. Videos circulating online reveal several supporters managing to rush toward Gandhi, with some hugging him, pulling at his hand, and—even in one instance kissing him before being stopped .
Despite the security breach, Rahul Gandhi appeared unfazed smiling as the situation was diffused by his team. The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny over protection arrangements during such high-profile political events .
Voter Adhikar Yatra
Launched on August 17, 2025, the Voter Adhikar Yatra is a 1,300-kilometer-long political caravan led by Rahul Gandhi in alliance with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Traversing more than 20 districts in Bihar including Sasaram, Katihar, Purnea, and Araria the yatra culminates in a rally in Patna on September 1 .
The yatra protests the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Gandhi and his allies have decried the SIR process as an instrument of "vote theft," alleging that it disproportionately affects marginalized groups such as the poor, minority communities, and migrant workers . He further accused the Election Commission of acting in collusion with the ruling party to suppress voter rights .
The campaign has witnessed broad participation from INDIA bloc allies, including opposition leaders such as Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, M.K. Stalin, and Hemant Soren, signaling a united front ahead of the elections .