Pune: Wakad Witnesses Vibrant Bike Rally by Matadar Jagrugta Manch, Advocating 100% Voting Participation

Wakad’s call to action for hundred percent voter participation echoes throughout Pune.

2 May 2024

By Payoshi Bisht

In a spirited display of civic engagement and advocacy for democratic participation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Matadar Jagrugta Manch, also known as Prabodhan Manch, orchestrated a dynamic bike rally on 1st May at 5:30 PM in Wakad. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-led initiative, the rally aimed to emphasise the significance of voting in the democratic process. The main aim was to encourage people to exercise their right to vote and advocate 100 percent participation. 

Commencing its journey from the Shree Ram Mandir, located opposite the Shonest Tower building in Wakad, the bike rally traversed through various pivotal locations, igniting awareness at every stop. Enthusiastic bikers made stops at prominent spots including Chowdhary Park, Star Bazar, Datta Mandir, Utkarsh Chowk, Global Punjab, Euro School, Phoenix Mall of the Millennium, Aalap Garden, Bhumkar Chowk and Dange Chowk, amplifying the message of voting across the public domain. 

The rally garnered an overwhelming response from the residents of Wakad, with many spontaneously joining the cause as they witnessed the procession pass through their neighbourhood. Passersby became active participants, reinforcing the rally’s impact and underscoring the communal dedication towards fostering democratic ethos.

Ankit Kothari, Kaushik Dhote and Aniket Deshmukh were among the fervent participants who lent their voices and actions to the cause, contributing to the rally’s success in spreading the message of 100% voting participation in the on-going elections. They made use of slogans and placards saying, “Matdaan humara adhikaar he, isse banti sarkar he” which translates to “Voting is our right, as it builds a government”.

Ankit Kothari, one of the participants in the bike rally, talked about his experience and stated that, “This was an RSS-led initiative as they wanted to increase the voting percentage and the best way to do that was organise a bike rally as well as a walking rally wherein the message of democratic participation could reach a wider audience and people celebrate the spirit of democracy. We traversed through various locations and traffic signals where we stopped for 15 minutes and chanted slogans to grab the attention of the passersby. The traffic police also supported the rally and joined the cause.” 

Talking about the response that the rally received, Kothari explained that the response was overwhelming and heartwarming as more than 40 people joined the rally and showed active participation. 

With the rally cry of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” echoing through the streets of Wakad, the bike rally organised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Matadar Jagrugta Manch exemplified a movement dedicated to upholding the essence of democracy through active civic engagement and voting awareness.