Patna (Bihar) [India], August 30 (ANI): RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday called the ongoing 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar a 'historic movement' to safeguard voting rights, and stressed that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's participation had given the campaign greater strength.

Speaking to reporters in Patna, Tejashwi said, 'This has been a very historic yatra, it received the support of millions of people... The people of Bihar are aware, and Biharis will protect their vote. Today, Akhilesh Yadav also joined the yatra. His presence has given us strength. Every child in the country is saying, 'Vote chor, gaddi chhodd,' and this message has spread across the entire country.'

He also accused the BJP of copying his policies out of fear of the growing public support for the opposition. 'BJP people are scared, so they want to implement Tejashwi's vision, but there is still a lot left that we will reveal after the notification comes, about what all we will implement in Bihar... Everyone in Bihar is saying that we want a real CM, not a duplicate CM,' he said.

Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav extended strong support to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', calling it a movement to safeguard democratic rights in Bihar. Addressing a gathering, Akhilesh said the yatra had awakened the people of the state to the threat of their rights being 'snatched away'.

'I congratulate Tejashwi ji for the yatra he carried out. He made the people of Bihar aware that their rights are being snatched away. I congratulate Tejashwi ji, Rahul Gandhi ji and the people of Bihar. This time, the harmony is going to win in Bihar. The people of Bihar will vote to build their future,' Akhilesh declared.

Praising Tejashwi's previous tenure as Deputy Chief Minister, Akhilesh highlighted his record on employment. Tejashwi ji has shown his work even before. And there was a time when he gave a record number of jobs, and employment was provided. Now, the youth of Bihar at least have this confidence that once the government is formed, Tejaswi ji will again provide them employment.

When asked if Tejashwi Yadav will be the chief ministerial face for the INDIA bloc, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, '...Tejashwi ji has shown his work here. And when he was in the government here, the decisions he took, jobs were given. What better face can there be than this? I assure him that we will help him with all our experience.'

Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, Akhilesh questioned its electoral strategy. 'The Bharatiya Janata Party has come up with SIR. What can be crazier or a more crazy decision than this? They want to contest elections by sitting behind the Election Commission...The Election Commission has become 'Jugaad Commission',' Akhilesh Yadav said.

Drawing a parallel with Uttar Pradesh, he said,' We saw loot in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP used to get 26-36 per cent votes... In UP, the people voted with awareness. I hope this time the people of Bihar will also wipe them out.'

Saturday's Voter Adhikar Yatra passed through Chapra in Saran and Arrah in Bhojpur. Covering over 1,300 km across 20 districts, the yatra is scheduled to conclude in Patna on September 1.

The high-stakes Bihar assembly elections are expected later this year, although the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date. (ANI)