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India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Congress says Bihar SIR will
Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) [India], July 11 (ANI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday called the Bharatiya Janata Part 'chori ki sarkar, choron ki sarkar' (thieves forming a stolen government) in Maharashtra by manipulating voter rolls, and a similar manipulation of electoral rolls is happening with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar ahead of the elections. While speaking at the 'Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh' event in Odisha's Bhubaneswar, Kharge said that out of the 7 crore voters in Bihar, 2 crore voters will be left out of the electoral rolls due to the ongoing SIR, and appealed to the people to 'oust the traitors and teach them a lesson.' 'There is a 'chori ki sarkar', 'choron ki sarkar' in Maharashtra. 85 lakh voters were changed and then BJP Govt came to power there. Similarly in Bihar, out of 7 crore voters there, 2 crore voters are being cancelled,' the Congress president said. Calling for people to vote out the Bharatiya Janata in Bihar, the Rajya Sabha MP added, 'Do you want such a government, such people? Will this safeguard democracy? We should oust traitors and teach them a lesson.' The claim of lakhs of voters being added in Maharashtra's electoral has been repeatedly brought up by Congress, including party leader Rahul Gandhi, who has demanded answers from the Election Commission of India and asked them to publish the electoral rolls in machine readable format for parties to analyse. Rahul Gandhi claims that the alleged discrepancy happened as more than 70 lakhs voters were added in the electoral rolls between the Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi, who also addressed the event in Bhubaneswar earlier today, accused the Election Commission of India of 'hatching a conspiracy' for 'chunav chori (election theft)' in Bihar. Claiming that the ECI is working 'as a BJP wing' 'BJP is attacking the constitution. Yesterday I was in Bihar. Just like 'chunav chori' was done in Maharashtra, similar attempts are being made to do 'chunav chori' in Bihar. EC has hatched a new conspiracy for 'chunav chori'. EC is working as a BJP wing, it is not doing its own job,' Lok Sabha's leader of Opposition said. 'In Maharashtra, between Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, 1 crore new voters were added. Nobody knows who were these voters and where did they come from. We told EC several times to provide us with the voter list and videography. But EC does not provide us with the same. They are going to do the same 'chori' in Bihar, that was done in Maharashtra,' he added. The Congress leader also visited Bihar on July 9 to attend the Bihar Bandh rally, where the issue of the Bihar SIR was also raised, along with party's alliance partner Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The Supreme Court allowed the Election continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi, while allowing the process to be continued, asked the ECI to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity during the process. The Revision of electoral rolls is expected to be finished by July 25. (ANI)
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Setback for opposition": BJP's Gaurav Bhatia after SC allows ECI to continue SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gaurav Bhatia on Friday hit out at the Opposition INDIA bloc after the Supreme Court allowed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, saying that the order is a 'big setback' for opposition parties. Addressing the media, the BJP leader stated that the Supreme Court's decision is a significant setback for those who sought to advance their politics through voters who did not have the constitutional right to cast a vote. 'This is a big setback for those who wanted to advance their politics through the voters who did not have the constitutional rights to cast a vote, those who did not want transparency in the voting process,' the BJP leader said. 'Yesterday, the Supreme Court did not stay the Election Commission's process on the plea filed by the opposition, sending a strong message. Now, Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi need to take note of this. It's a big setback for the opposition party. Any party or individual who doesn't believe in the Supreme Court or legal process should understand this as well,' he added. This came after the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission to continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, where polls are due later this year. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi did not stay the SIR process but asked the ECI to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity during the SIR of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar. 'We are of the prima facie opinion that in the interest of justice, the Election Commission will also include documents like Aadhaar, Ration Card, Voter ID card, etc. It is for the ECI to decide whether it wants to accept the documents or not, and if it does not, then provide reasons for its decision, which shall be sufficient to satisfy the petitioners. Meanwhile, petitioners are not pressing for an interim stay,' the bench stated in its order. Opposition parties and leaders have earlier labelled the revision of the voter list as 'backdoor NRC (National Register of Citizens)', alleging 'vote theft' while also prompting them to question the independence of the constitutional body. The INDIA bloc on Wednesday held a massive 'Bihar Bandh' rally in Patna against electoral roll revision in the poll-bound state, where Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi alleged that the pattern of electoral manipulation seen in Maharashtra could be repeated in Bihar. In its order, the top court noted that the timeline for the process is very short since elections in Bihar are due in November. The apex court posted for hearing on July 28 the pleas challenging ECI's move to conduct SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar and asked the poll panel to file its affidavit within one week. During the hearing, the bench opined that Aadhaar should be included within the list of documents permissible as an ID proof. 'We feel since Aadhar has been taken as a solid proof for inclusion in electoral rolls... it should be included. Your enumeration list is all related to identity - matriculation certificate, etc.,' observed the bench. The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission of India's move to conduct the SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The petitions sought a direction to quash the ECI's June 24 directive, which requires large sections of voters in Bihar to submit proof of citizenship to remain on the electoral rolls. The petition also raised concerns over the exclusion of widely held documents like Aadhaar and ration cards, stating that this would disproportionately affect the poor and marginalised voters, especially in rural Bihar. (ANI)
United News of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Rahul Gandhi to address mega rally in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar/ New Delhi, July 11 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will address a mega rally, 'Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh', at Baramunda ground in Bhubaneswar today. This will be Gandhi's first visit to the state as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Gandhi will be accompanied by AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal. After the rally, Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, and Venugopal are also likely to hold discussions with the Congress Legislature Party, PCC President, and MLAs at Congress Bhavan on organisational matters. The rally in Odisha comes after the INDIA bloc held a massive "Bihar Bandh" rally in Patna on July 9 against electoral roll revision in the poll-bound state, where Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Centre and the Election Commission of India, alleging that the Maharashtra model of "stealing elections" is being implemented in Bihar. "We have come to Bihar, where people have sacrificed their lives for the Constitution. It is written in our Constitution that every citizen has the right to vote. I want to tell the people of India and Bihar that just like the Maharashtra elections were stolen, similarly, an attempt is being made to steal the Bihar elections," LoP Gandhi said while addressing a large gathering during the 'Chakka Jam' protest in Patna against the voter list revision. Alleging that the "pattern of electoral manipulation" seen in Maharashtra could be repeated in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav called the ECI a "Godi Aayog" while accusing the NDA alliance of using the constitutional body to remove the names of "Bihar's poor people" from the voter list. Several senior leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, including CPI General Secretary D Raja, CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram, Kanhaiya Kumar, and Sanjay Yadav, also participated in the protest in Bihar. The Congress leader said, "The constituencies where voters were added, BJP won." However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported significant progress in Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, with over 57 per cent of enumeration forms collected in the first half of the designated period, reinforcing the commission's commitment to maintaining pure electoral rolls across the country. The Bihar Assembly elections are to be held later this year and the state will witness a multi-cornered contest with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) and the BJP, facing off against the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the INC, and other parties. UNI AAB RKM
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
NDA vs JSP vs Mahagathbandhan—Bihar elections are a litmus test for old & new politics
The NDA, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United), is backed by a powerful organisational network. With the BJP's strong cadre system and grassroots presence, the NDA has the ability to efficiently mobilise voters. It is a major advantage in any election, as has been evident from the electoral outcome of some recent state assembly elections. The alliance also enjoys solid backing from upper caste Hindus and non-Yadav Other Backward Classes (OBCs), most of whom have consistently sided with them across multiple election cycles. What started as a protest against the government's labour policy has evolved into something politically sharper. The Mahagathbandhan, led by Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi , has framed the strike in terms of electoral fairness, raising concerns about the special intensive revision. This shift in narrative signals an emboldened Opposition, and raises an important question: Is the Mahagathbandhan gaining ground, and will the National Democratic Alliance face a steeper challenge in the run-up to the 2025 Bihar elections? In this context, the article situates the strengths and weaknesses of Bihar's three major political players – the ruling NDA, the Mahagathbandhan Opposition, and the emerging Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) – and draws probable trajectories ahead. A Bharat Bandh was recently observed against the government's alleged 'anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies'. While the impact of these strikes varied across states, in Bihar, they took on a far more intense and confrontational undertone. The Bihar Bandh or chakka jam quickly escalated into widespread protests involving road blockades and tyre-burning demonstrations. More importantly, NDA has a wider appeal among women voters. Historically, a slightly larger share of women than men have supported the NDA. Nitish Kumar's recent announcement – to reserve 35 per cent of all government jobs for women who are residents of Bihar – is likely to reinforce this support. Combined with a decade-long record of development initiatives such as road building, alcohol prohibition, and social welfare schemes, the NDA is poised to present itself as a coalition well suited for governance. But the alliance is not without trouble. Internally, there is palpable tension. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has declared plans to contest all seats independently, risking a split in the NDA vote. Smaller allies such as the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) are also pressing for more seats, creating strain within the coalition. Above all, the NDA might suffer from a leadership vacuum at the state level. Once the alliance's anchor, Nitish Kumar is now seeing a dip in popularity, with his declining health adding to concerns. Voter fatigue will exacerbate NDA's problems, with anti-incumbency likely to surface after 20 years. Gaps in governance, especially unfilled public sector jobs, and frustration among young voters can become real threats. The law-and-order situation has deteriorated, and the death of Gopal Khemka can hurt the alliance's prospects if the Opposition successfully capitalises on it. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi commands immense popularity nationally, one can't be sure how it will work in NDA's favour. Also read: RJD has an EBC dream in Bihar. It'll take more than tickets & tokenism The Mahagathbandhan The Mahagathbandhan coalition is mostly centred around the Tejashwi Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress party. The alliance is banking on consolidating minority and OBC votes, especially among Muslims and Yadavs. A few early opinion polls suggest Tejashwi is gaining traction and is becoming a popular chief ministerial candidate. His focus on bread-and-butter issues like unemployment, inflation, and migration appears to ride well with voters beleaguered with economic distress. The Mahagathbandhan seat-sharing strategy, covering Congress, the Left parties, and smaller allies like the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), is mostly well balanced and would help them avoid public squabbles that often plague pre-election alliances. However, the strength of the coalition remains uneven and fragile. Congress is widely seen as the weaker link, demanding more seats than its electoral strength justifies. In the 2020 election, it won only 19 of the 70 it contested. Tejashwi's popularity aside, the RJD still carries the baggage of the Lalu Yadav era—one that accentuates rising crime, corruption, and what has often been labelled as 'jungle raj'. That image is not faint; it lingers, especially among older voters. More importantly, the alliance's chances depend heavily on perfect vote transfer between parties and communities. In Bihar elections, any minor slip in vote coordination can flip the results dramatically. Also read: What's behind Modi govt's U-turn on caste census & how it targets Oppn ahead of crucial Bihar polls The JSP The third important player is the Jan Suraaj Party, led by political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor. While not yet established as an electoral heavyweight, JSP is gaining attention, especially among younger and urban voters. Kishor's clean image, non-alignment with caste politics, and emphasis on governance-first policies appear to give his party a refreshing start. The JSP has focused on practical issues like education and migration, which may resonate with voters tired of the same old caste and coalition arithmetic. The party's new entrant, social media influencer Manish Kashyap, indicates that the JSP is gaining some traction. But the reality is different. JSP lacks the organisational depth required for a state-wide campaign. It has little presence at the booth level, and it lacks the machinery to mobilise voters effectively. Funding and logistics may be big obstacles. Without allies or a strong party base, contesting all 243 seats seems like a long road. Kishor's credibility as an election strategist is undeniable, but converting that into electoral success is altogether a different ballgame. With three months down the line, each alliance/party is poised to give its best. The NDA leans on its proven organisational skills and the power of incumbency, but faces internal discord with small allies and voter fatigue. The Mahagathbandhan is riding on Tejashwi's momentum and promises of economic relief, though it risks repeating old mistakes. The JSP, while fresh and focused, may not have the structure and wherewithal to compete on par with the alliances. In this sense, this election is not just about who governs; rather, it is a litmus test of whether old loyalties still hold, whether new politics can break through, or whether promises will outweigh past performance. For voters, the choice is going to be tough. For politicians, the challenge is far tougher. Devesh Kumar is a Research Associate with Lokniti-CSDS. Sanjay Kumar is a professor at CSDS and a political commentator. Views are personal. (Edited by Zoya Bhatti)
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Bizarre Bihar: Woman's Voter ID Card Features CM Nitish Kumars Photo
A Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll is underway in Bihar by the Election Commission of India. Bihar is going to the polls around November this year and ahead of the polls, the voters' list is being updated to weed out duplicates and fake voters. Amid the SIR by the ECI, a strange case has come to light from the state where a woman's voter ID card has gone viral. It's not due to her identity details, but because of the photograph it carries. Instead of her image, the voter ID card bears a picture of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Yes, you read it right. The incident came to light on Wednesday during the statewide shutdown (Bihar Bandh), when Chandan Kumar, a resident of Jaypal Patti in the Madhepura municipal area, brought the matter to the attention of the media. Holding up his wife Abhilasha Kumari's voter ID, he pointed out that while all personal details, including her name, were correct, the photograph on the card appeared to be that of CM Nitish Kumar. According to Chandan, the card was received nearly two and a half months ago through the local post office. The envelope contained correct details on the outside, and everything seemed in order until they looked at the photograph. Shockingly, instead of his wife's image, the card featured what looked like an official photograph of the Chief Minister, reported NDTV. He further claimed that when he approached the local Booth Level Officer (BLO) to report the mistake, he was advised not to share the issue publicly, said the report. Raising serious questions about the voter ID issuance process, Chandan Kumar said that this type of mistake is not common. He added that a CM's photo on a woman's voter card is a major lapse. "This shows gross negligence on the part of the agency or personnel responsible for issuing these IDs," he said. The incident has sparked conversation both locally and online, with many questioning the integrity and oversight of official identity documentation processes in the state.
