BJP chief Nitin Nabin leads 'Save Democracy' padyatra in Bhagalpur, targets Rahul Gandhi
Synopsis
BJP National President Nitin Nabin chose Bhagalpur — Bihar's historic Silk City — to fire the opening shot of the NDA's nationwide 'Save Democracy' campaign, personally leading a 1,300-metre padyatra while accusing Rahul Gandhi of colluding with foreign forces to tarnish India's democratic image. With Bihar Assembly elections on the horizon and electoral roll revisions already under scrutiny, this launch is as much a political ground operation as a messaging exercise.
Key Takeaways
BJP National President Nitin Nabin launched the 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' padyatra on 2 November 2026 in Bhagalpur, Bihar .
The foot march covered approximately 1,300 metres from Lajpat Park to Ghantaghar Chowk .
Nabin accused Rahul Gandhi of colluding with foreign entities to damage India's democratic image — a charge made without citing specific evidence.
Bihar Urban Development Minister Nitish Mishra disclosed that 65 lakh entries were deleted and 21.5 lakh new voters added to Bihar's electoral rolls ahead of the state elections.
Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Chaudhary alleged the opposition was trying to exert undue pressure on the Supreme Court and weaken the Election Commission .
BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Monday, 2 November 2026, launched the NDA's nationwide campaign titled 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, Eliminate Anarchy) with a padyatra from the historic Lajpat Park in Bhagalpur, Bihar. The foot march, spanning approximately 1,300 metres, marked Nabin's first visit to the Silk City since assuming charge as BJP's national president.
Nabin's Attack on the Opposition
Addressing a large public gathering ahead of the march, Nabin launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that Gandhi was focused solely on his family's political survival rather than national development. He contrasted this with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he described as the country's 'mukhya sevak' (chief servant) and 'chowkidar' (watchman), crediting the PM with consistently honouring the public's trust.
Nabin also accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to damage India's democratic image internationally 'in collusion with foreign entities' — a serious charge that he offered without citing specific evidence. He, however, asserted that India's democracy was 'mature and resilient' enough to withstand such attempts.
Electoral Roll Row and the Election Commission
Nabin referred to the Election Commission of India's reported challenge to Rahul Gandhi to substantiate his allegations with evidence, claiming that the Congress leader had failed to respond adequately to the Commission's invitation for an open discussion. He accused opposition parties of accepting electoral outcomes only when they won, while questioning constitutional institutions upon defeat.
Bihar Urban Development Minister Nitish Mishra, who also addressed the gathering, said approximately 65 lakh entries had been deleted from Bihar's electoral rolls — covering deceased persons, relocated voters and duplicate registrations — ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. He added that 21.5 lakh new eligible voters had been enrolled. Mishra described the large Bhagalpur turnout as a democratic rebuke to what he called the opposition's misleading campaign.
Deputy CM Backs Democratic Institutions
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also addressed the event, stressing the need to protect democratic institutions. He alleged that opposition parties were making systematic attempts to weaken the Election Commission through baseless allegations and were trying to exert undue pressure on the Supreme Court.
The Padyatra Route and Reception
The march began at Lajpat Park, passed through Kharmanchak and Bhamashah Chowk, and concluded at the historic Ghantaghar Chowk, according to event coordinator Nitesh Singh. Earlier, NDA leaders and supporters gave Nabin a grand reception at Bhagalpur airport, with his convoy passing through Tilka Manjhi, Adampur and Manik Sarkar Chowk en route to the venue.
This campaign, launched from the historic Anga region, is expected to roll out across the country in the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections, with the BJP framing the exercise as a defence of democratic institutions against what it characterises as opposition-led anarchy.
Point of View
But it arrives without documentary support, which risks reinforcing the opposition's claim that the ruling party substitutes rhetoric for rebuttal. The disclosure of 65 lakh electoral roll deletions in Bihar — however routine the stated reasons — will sharpen, not soften, that debate. Launching the campaign from Bhagalpur signals the BJP is taking Bihar's Assembly election cycle seriously; the real test is whether a padyatra translates into ground-level credibility on institutional trust.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP's 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' campaign?
It is a nationwide campaign launched by the BJP-led NDA, titled 'Save Democracy, Eliminate Anarchy', aimed at countering what the party describes as opposition attempts to undermine democratic institutions. It was formally launched by BJP National President Nitin Nabin on 2 November 2026 with a padyatra in Bhagalpur, Bihar.
What allegations did Nitin Nabin make against Rahul Gandhi?
Nabin accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to damage India's democratic image internationally in collusion with foreign entities, without citing specific evidence. He also claimed that Gandhi had failed to respond adequately to the Election Commission's invitation for an open discussion to substantiate his allegations.
What changes were made to Bihar's electoral rolls?
According to Bihar Urban Development Minister Nitish Mishra, approximately 65 lakh entries — including deceased persons, relocated voters and duplicate registrations — were deleted from Bihar's electoral rolls ahead of the Assembly elections. An additional 21.5 lakh new eligible voters were simultaneously enrolled.
Where did the Bhagalpur padyatra begin and end?
The padyatra began at Lajpat Park in Bhagalpur, passed through Kharmanchak and Bhamashah Chowk, and concluded at Ghantaghar Chowk. The march covered approximately 1,300 metres, according to event coordinator Nitesh Singh.
Why is the campaign being launched ahead of Bihar elections?
The BJP has framed the campaign as a defence of democratic institutions against what it characterises as opposition-led anarchy, with Bihar Assembly elections expected in the near term. Launching from Bhagalpur, part of the historic Anga region, carries strong symbolic weight for voter mobilisation in the state.
