newspop
Patna : Opposition parties in Bihar are stepping up their campaign over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of irregularities in the election process, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav announcing a series of protests culminating in a major ‘Lok Bhavan March’ in Patna on October 8.
According to the programme announced by Yadav, INDIA bloc parties will organise protests and Akrosh Marches at the block level on October 7, raising their concerns over the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while on October 8, Mahagathbandhan allies will stage demonstrations at district headquarters and senior leaders will participate in the Patna march, reportedly beginning near Saptamurti opposite the Bihar Assembly.
Yadav has alleged that the SIR exercise, which began in Bihar, has raised concerns over voter-list revisions and the electoral process, and has accused the Election Commission of failing to adequately address opposition concerns. He has also levelled political allegations against Gyanesh Kumar and questioned the Election Commission’s response to issues raised by opposition parties.
These allegations are political claims and have not been independently established; the Election Commission has defended the voter-roll revision exercise as an effort to remove duplicate, deceased or otherwise ineligible entries while ensuring eligible voters are included.
The opposition’s campaign is also expected to extend beyond Bihar, with leaders planning demonstrations in Delhi and seeking a meeting with the President over their concerns. The latest developments come amid protests in Delhi and Mumbai demanding Kumar’s resignation, with thousands of opposition supporters and youth protesters taking part in demonstrations over voter-roll revisions.
With the October 7–8 programme, the political confrontation over SIR, voter rolls and the Election Commission’s role is set to intensify further in the coming days.
