New Delhi, Oct 27 – Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar released a detailed plan for Phase II of India’s nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a fresh push to clean and verify voter rolls. The drive comes amid strong protests from several political parties, especially in Bihar, where opposition leaders have accused the Election Commission of favoring the ruling BJP.
What the SIR plan says
- The Commission has scheduled another round of checks across the country, with trained Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and Officers (BLOs) to verify each name on ballots.
- In Bihar, about 160,000 BLAs are expected to work on the ground.
- The CEC says political parties, including the Mahagathbandhan coalition, have also shown support and helped with the verification work.
The political backlash
- Opposition parties, notably Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), claim the SIR is a way to “steal votes” and tilt the upcoming assembly elections in favor of the BJP.
- Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha opposition leader, and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav led a 16‑day “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar, rallying against the voter‑verification drive.
CEC’s response
- Gyanesh Kumar declined to name any party that might be “politicising” the process.
- He said the Election Commission does not comment on political statements.
- The CEC highlighted that the commission worked closely with district party leaders and welcomed cooperation from all sides.
The road ahead
- The Election Commission vows to keep the SIR transparent and impartial, underlining that the drive was launched months before the Bihar polls to ensure accurate voter lists.
- Critics remain skeptical, arguing the timing and speed of the revision could disadvantage opposition candidates.
India’s election authorities are under pressure to prove that the Special Intensive Revision is a fair, neutral step toward cleaner electoral rolls—an effort that could shape the outcome of the next general elections.
Source: ianslive
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