Latest news with #BiharAssembly
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Two crore Bihar voters will be disenfranchised because of SIR, INDIA bloc claims
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in Bihar could disenfranchise at least two crore voters in the State, especially the migrant population, a delegation of INDIA bloc leaders said on Wednesday after a nearly three-hour-long meeting with the Election Commission of India (ECI). Twenty leaders from 11 parties of the Opposition bloc met the Commission to convey their objections regarding the SIR exercise ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for October–November this year. Drawing a parallel with the 2016 demonetisation exercise, which was colloquially referred to as notebandi, the Opposition termed the electoral revision 'votebandi'. Citing the ECI's own estimate that at least 20% of Bihar's population comprises migrant workers, the leaders expressed fears that such individuals could be arbitrarily removed from the rolls. Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the delegation raised three primary concerns: the necessity, timing, and feasibility of the revision exercise. 'Firstly, we asked if the last revision was in 2003, for 22 years, four or five Bihar Assembly polls have happened - were all those elections faulty and imperfect?' Mr. Singhvi asked. He pointed out that the 2003 revision was held well in advance of national and State elections. 'In contrast, this revision, which affects the second largest electorate in the country with over eight crore voters, is being carried out in just two months,' he said. 'We believe that migratory persons, who travel to work, cannot be at the beck and call of the enumerator.' Mr. Singhvi further stated that 'disenfranchisement' is the gravest attack on the Constitution's basic structure. 'We have said that upwards of 2.5 or three crore persons - let us assume the minimum two crore - may be disenfranchised by this exercise. Why choose to do this at the cusp of the elections?' he asked. Mr. Singhvi also questioned why the ECI had 'jettisoned and abandoned' the Aadhaar card, which has previously been used to confirm voter identities. He raised concerns over the lack of transparency, noting that political parties were not informed in advance about the planned revision. 'EC seems completely disinclined to consider our submissions,' he said. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Manoj Jha described the meeting as 'less than amicable'. '20% of the population, who migrate in search of livelihood, are in danger of losing their voting rights. The purpose of this exercise is exclusion rather than inclusion,' Mr. Jha said. Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said the Opposition came away from the meeting even more concerned. 'The EC clarified that only those who are ordinary residents will find their names on the electoral roll. Those who are forced to leave the State looking for livelihood, in EC's view, will not be considered 'ordinary residents',' he said. Mr. Bhattacharya also questioned the logistics of reaching eight crore voters during the monsoon season. Responding to the Opposition's concerns, the Commission said that the SIR was being conducted in accordance with Article 326 of the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the instructions issued on June 24. The Commission maintained that each concern raised during the meeting was addressed in full. The ECI also thanked political parties for appointing over 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) for ground-level participation in the SIR. The meeting saw tensions rise over the issue of representation, with the ECI having earlier informed parties that only the heads would be allowed in. 'It will render dialogue between political parties and the Election Commission absolutely impossible,' Mr. Singhvi said, criticising the move. However, ECI sources later clarified that some participants were pre-appointed while others were allowed entry on the Commission's own discretion. The Commission said it allowed two representatives from each party to ensure all views were heard.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Mahagathbandhan Will Throw Waqf Act Into Dustbin After Forming Govt In Bihar Says RJD's Tejashwi
Thousands of people from different parts of the country gathered at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on Sunday to take part in a protest to oppose the Waqf Amendment politicians, including MPs and MLAs, also attended the protest organised under the banner of Imarat-e-Shariah, a Muslim organisation active mainly in Bihar, Odisha and Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, Dipankar Bhattacharya of the CPI(ML), Rajya Sabha member Imran Pratapgarhi, and Lok Sabha member Pappu Yadav were also at the gathering, along with other MPs and MLAs from the INDIA bloc. The Congress state president also read out messages of support from Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party national president Mallikarjun Kharge. n18oc_indian18oc_breaking-newsn18oc_politicsNews18 Mobile App -
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Namazwadi, not Samajwadi: BJP hits out at Tejashwi over anti-Waqf protest
The BJP on Monday lashed out at Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, for his controversial remarks on the Waqf Amendment Act in Patna on Sunday, saying that his party was more interested in promoting "namazwad" than "samajwad" (socialism)."These parties like RJD, Samajwadi Party, etc, who are wearing the garb of socialism, are not standing up for the rights of the poor and oppressed Muslims. Therefore, the socialism of RJD and SP cannot be called socialism at all. If it is called 'Namazvad', then it will not be an exaggeration," BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, addressing a press conference in Delhi today. advertisementTrivedi was responding to the RJD leader's remarks on throwing the newly-passed Waqf Act "into the dustbin." "BJP and the NDA alliance are determined that if anyone wants to throw Baba Saheb Ambedkar's constitution, any of its provisions, into the dustbin, we will not let that happen," he said."Does INDI alliance want to impose Sharia laws in Bihar," BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi further claimed that Tejashwi Yadav's remarks were reflective of the fact that the INDIA bloc has "no respect for the Parliament and judiciary.""Tejashwi Yadav and other leaders of the INDI alliance have said in the pursuit of vote bank, it is clear that they are not able to come out of the 50-year-old mentality of throwing the Constitution in the dustbin," he Sunday, several Opposition leaders — from Pappu Yadav to Imran Pratapgarhi — attended the anti-Waqf protest organised by Imarat-e-Shariah, a Muslim organisation active mainly in Bihar, Odisha, and Ends
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Will pad up and bat if captain tells me to: Kanhaiya Kumar on contesting Bihar polls
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Friday said that he will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls if the party tells him to. Using a cricketing analogy, Kumar said that just like batting, bowling, and fielding are responsibilities that have to be fulfilled on the cricket field, fighting polls is also a responsibility in politics. "To fight polls, to make others fight polls and campaign, all are responsibilities that the party allots. If the party tells me to contest the polls then I will fight the elections also. Earlier also, when I contested the polls, it was on the orders of the party," he told PTI in an interview when asked whether he will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls slated later this year. "If the captain tells me to sit outside and deliver drinks for those at the crease, I will do that. And if the captain tells me to, I will also pad up and bat," Kumar said on the possibility of him contesting assembly polls. On the Congress projecting him as a prominent face in Bihar, Kumar said the party has given him a responsibility like it does to its lakhs of workers. It is like in a team where different people have a separate role, he added. Live Events "Earlier, (MS) Dhoni was the wicketkeeper. Now (Rishabh) Pant is there," he said, drawing a cricketing parallel. Asserting that the party functions with collective effort, Kumar said the decision to contest polls should also be collective. "I have been a strong votary of the principle that fighting an election is a collective decision. Like other responsibilities, fighting polls is also a responsibility. Like batting, bowling, and fielding are all responsibilities that have to be fulfilled, fighting polls is also a responsibility," he told PTI. Kumar, a former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union, had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls twice. He first contested general elections on a CPI ticket from Bihar's Begusarai in 2019 and then as a Congress nominee from Northeast Delhi in 2024. On the Election Commission asking for place of birth certificates starting with Bihar polls, Kumar said the Congress has asked the poll panel to rectify the anomalies in the voters list. "Today, if you raise questions on EC, they are answered by the BJP. You raise questions on ED, and answers are given by the BJP. You raise questions on the CBI and the Income Tax Department, answers are given by the BJP. I would like to remind you that it was the BJP that raised the questions over EVMs... So, if you (the BJP) raises questions it is ok but if we do the same, it is wrong," he said. "First you were saying there is no error. Now you are starting this process from Bihar. So, you are accepting that there is a mistake. And if there is a mistake, your focus should be on rectifying that and not harassing people. A Process should not become a punishment and the issues that have been raised should be rectified honestly," Kumar said.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Will pad up and bat if captain tells me to: Kanhaiya on contesting Bihar polls
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Friday (June 27, 2025) said that he will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls if the party tells him to. Using a cricketing analogy, Mr. Kumar said that just like batting, bowling, and fielding are responsibilities that have to be fulfilled on the cricket field, fighting polls is also a responsibility in politics. "To fight polls, to make others fight polls and campaign, all are responsibilities that the party allots. If the party tells me to contest the polls, then I will fight the elections also. Earlier also, when I contested the polls, it was on the orders of the party," he told PTI in an interview when asked whether he will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls slated later this year. "If the captain tells me to sit outside and deliver drinks for those at the crease, I will do that. And if the captain tells me to, I will also pad up and bat," Mr. Kumar said on the possibility of him contesting assembly polls. Also Read | Tejashwi Yadav urges Bihar's youth to give him 20 months to transform the State On the Congress projecting him as a prominent face in Bihar, Kumar said the party has given him a responsibility like it does to its lakhs of workers. It is like in a team where different people have a separate role, he added. "Earlier, (MS) Dhoni was the wicketkeeper. Now (Rishabh) Pant is there," he said, drawing a cricketing parallel. Asserting that the party functions with collective effort, Mr. Kumar said the decision to contest polls should also be collective. "I have been a strong votary of the principle that fighting an election is a collective decision. Like other responsibilities, fighting polls is also a responsibility. Like batting, bowling, and fielding are all responsibilities that have to be fulfilled, fighting polls is also a responsibility," he said. Mr. Kumar, a former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union, had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls twice. He first contested general elections on a CPI ticket from Bihar's Begusarai in 2019 and then as a Congress nominee from Northeast Delhi in 2024. On the Election Commission asking for place of birth certificates starting with Bihar polls, Mr. Kumar said the Congress has asked the poll panel to rectify the anomalies in the voters list. "Today, if you raise questions on EC, they are answered by the BJP. You raise questions on ED, and answers are given by the BJP. You raise questions on the CBI and the Income Tax Department, answers are given by the BJP. I would like to remind you that it was the BJP that raised the questions over EVMs... So, if you (the BJP) raises questions it is ok but if we do the same, it is wrong," he said. "First you were saying there is no error. Now you are starting this process from Bihar. So, you are accepting that there is a mistake. And if there is a mistake, your focus should be on rectifying that and not harassing people. A Process should not become a punishment and the issues that have been raised should be rectified honestly," Mr. Kumar said.
