NDA allies back EC, call SIR routine & necessary | India News
PATNA/NEW DELHI: Allies in governing NDA have backed EC’s ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, describing the exercise as “routine and necessary”. Some NDA functionaries told TOI they have absolutely no issues or apprehensions about SIR, though they are keeping a close eye on the exercise. They added that they are holding review meetings with booth level agents (BLAs) to assess the situation, and as of now there has been no problem.HAM (Hindustan Avam Morcha) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi and LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) boss Chirag Paswan, both Union ministers, came out strongly in support of EC’s exercise.The stand of the allies is significant in view of opposition’s allegation that the poll commission’s drive is aimed at disenfranchising Dalits and most backward castes. While Dalits are the mainstay of LJP and HAM, JDU draws its support from MBCs and sections of OBCs.Paswan Thursday accused the opposition of deliberately undermining constitutional institutions. “After EVMs, they are trying to blame SIR as they see defeat staring them in the face in the state election,” he said.Manjhi echoed this, claiming bogus voter registrations had long benefited the opposition. “I know many seats where up to 20,000 bogus voters were registered before 2005. Opposition wants to continue with it to their advantage. The SIR will identify those names and strike them off the list,” he said. Manjhi alleged RJD was protesting as it had created bogus voters in every constituency.Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha, also an NDA partner, urged critics to understand EC’s move before raising objections. “People are raising questions without information,” he said.
