The demonstrations varied in context and reflected deepening political discontent ahead of key electoral and policy measures, reported PTI.
Bihar sees opposition-led Bandh
In Bihar, leaders of the Mahagathbandhan alliance including the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, led a massive protest march in Patna against the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The leaders alleged that the process aimed to disenfranchise marginalised voters ahead of the Bihar state assembly elections later in 2026.
#WATCH | Patna | Congress MP & LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi takes part in Mahagathbandhan’s ‘Bihar Bandh’ rally against electoral rolls revision in Bihar
“The way there was vote theft in the Maharashtra elections, a similar attempt is being made in Bihar,” he says. pic.twitter.com/pZyAJ63mgw— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
Addressing a gathering near the Election Commission’s office, Gandhi accused the poll panel of “serving” the ruling party, alleging that the panel comprises only people nominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as per news agency PTI.
Rahul said that the electoral roll changes were an attempt to “replicate the Maharashtra model” and manipulate the upcoming elections.
#WATCH | Patna: Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, was not allowed to board the truck by security personnel during the Mahagathbandhan protest against electoral rolls revision in poll-bound Bihar earlier today
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Congress MP and LoP Lok Sabha… pic.twitter.com/k3Gkau1xrD— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
Independent MP Pappu Yadav also joined the agitating alleging, “The EC has hatched a conspiracy to deprive people, mostly Dalits and other vulnerable sections, of their voting rights.”
Road and rail traffic were blocked across several districts, including Patna, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga with protestors burning tyres and disrupting movement.
#WATCH | Patna: NSUI National incharge Kanhaiya Kumar was not allowed to board the truck by security personnel during the Mahagathbandhan protest against electoral rolls revision in poll-bound Bihar earlier today
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Congress MP and LoP Lok Sabha Rahul… pic.twitter.com/gkghNVxMbF— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
Protests in Delhi by traders
In the national capital, New Delhi, the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members staged a protest at Jantar Mantar as part of the Bharat Bandh called today over the central government’s policies.
Protestors were seen carrying out marches, holding banners and shouting slogans.
#WATCH | Delhi: All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members stage a protest at Jantar Mantar, as part of the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called today over Union government’s policies.
The ‘Bharat Bandh’ protests have been called by ten central trade unions (CTUs). pic.twitter.com/3vM0ccZhPn— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
Clashes in West Bengal
In West Bengal, Left-backed trade unions enforced a partial shutdown as part of the nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions. The strike was aimed at protesting against issues like privatisation, price rise and job insecurity, as per ANI.
#WATCH | West Bengal | Kolkata Police remove workers of the left parties’ unions blocking a road, to let a bus pass through, amid the ‘Bharat Bandh’ rally in Kolkata.
Ten central trade unions have called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’, alleging that the central government is pushing… pic.twitter.com/KuHgcdAceY— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
Clashes broke out in several districts including south Kolkata, Siliguri, and Birbhum, where Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and its student body Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists scuffled with police while attempting to block roads and railways. Several protestors were detained, as per PTI.
In Naxalbari, a confrontation occurred between Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters and trade union leaders. Bus drivers were seen wearing helmets to work as a precaution amid fears of violence, reported ANI.
#WATCH | Darjeeling, West Bengal | Clash breaks out between TMC members and Trade Union Leaders over ‘Bharat Bandh’ in Naxalbari pic.twitter.com/mhPQ94LmbX
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
TMC leader Debangshu Bhattacharya condemned the strike calling it “hooliganism”, while CPI(M) leader Sujan Chaktraborty responded by stating, “The Trinamool is trying to prove that it is more BJP than the BJP itself,” as per PTI.
Bengali workers detained in Odisha, says TMC
On Bharat Bandh, 10 central trade unions staged a protest in Bhubaneswar alleging that the central government is pushing for economic reforms that weaken the rights of the workers and favour large conglomerates.
#WATCH | Odisha: On the call of ‘Bharat Bandh’, 10 central trade unions staged a protest in Bhubaneswar. They allege that the central government is pushing economic reforms that weaken the rights of workers.
Biju Janata Dal’s trade union “Biju Shramik Samukhya” also participated… pic.twitter.com/vXUsyvKL6W— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
In Odisha, the TMC party alleged that over 200 Bengali-speaking migrant workers were illegally detained in Jharsuguda region by the BJP-led state government.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “23 workers from Mirzapur village Panighata GP in my constituency are being illegally detailed with 421 other Bengali workers at interrogation centre by Orient Police Station in Jharsuguda, Odisha despite full documentation.”
23 workers from Mirzapur village Panighata GP in my constituency are being illegally detailed with 421 other Bengali workers at interrogation centre by Orient Police Station in Jharsuguda, Odisha despite full documentation @DGPOdisha @SecyChief @Naveen_Odisha pic.twitter.com/nlvmW6Zfoc
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 9, 2025
Odisha authorities are yet to respond to the allegations.
Student protests in Kerala universities
In Kerala, protests erupted across universities as the Students Federation of India (SFI) demonstrated against the governor’s alleged attempt to “saffronise” higher education, as per PTI.
Congress member and Leader of Opposition in Kerala, VD Sateesan termed the protests as “complete hooliganism” accusing the CPI(M) led government of supporting and eroding academic values.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | On SFI protests, Kerala LoP & Congress MLA V D Satheesan says, “With the help of the state government and police, the SFI activists acted like hooligans across the state… They penetrated the universities and attacked the employees,… pic.twitter.com/SUK2EoYkRS
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
The SFI received backing from the CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan who vowed continued resistance against the ‘Sangh Parivar’s agenda’, as per PTI.
#WATCH | Kerala | Kochi witnesses empty roads as the city observes ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by 10 central trade unions, alleging the central govt of pushing “pro-corporate” policies. pic.twitter.com/rBU0JOjubr
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
