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Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bihar electoral roll revision: Parties increase booth-level agents amid concerns
Political parties have expanded their polling booth-level agent (BLA) networks in poll-bound Bihar amid disenfranchisement concerns over the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s special intensive revision of the electoral roll. The agents have increased from 138,000 to 156,000, according to the ECI data until July 2. Polls are due in Bihar later this year. (PTI/File) BLAs are allowed to submit 50 enumeration forms daily after verification. As per revision guidelines, BLAs can submit the forms with an undertaking that they have personally verified the particulars and are satisfied that they are correct. Opposition parties have questioned the delay in announcing the revision months before the polls are due. They have argued it could have been undertaken earlier. ECI has, over the last decade, accepted Aadhaar and the ration card for inclusion in the electoral roll. The Opposition parties have said those without additional documents, particularly backward communities, will find themselves deprived of their right to vote and will have to run around. Bihar Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan said they were paying close attention to people from marginalised sections, who are particularly anxious about being left out. An ECI official said the district presidents of national and state-level political parties are expediting the appointment of BLAs to ensure the success of the revision. 'This means the target of over 7.5 million form submissions can be achieved in one day,' said the official, who did not want to be named. 'Even if they work with half the capacity, more than 3.7 million electors' enumeration forms would be submitted on time along with the documents.' The Congress has nearly doubled its BLAs, from 8,586 to 16,500. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ally Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), have added 6,738 agents, totalling 34,669, marking a 24% increase. The BJP now has 52,689 agents after adding 725 new ones. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has increased its agents by 361 to 47,504. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has increased its BLAs from 76 to 578, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation from 233 to 1,271. JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said the party did not have a strong BLA network in the previous elections. He added that they have strengthened the organisational base by expanding booth-level committees. 'We have introduced newer systems, and BLAs, along with booth-level committees, will assist the people to ensure that they get into the electoral roll.' JD(U)'s core support base of the Extremely Backward Classes accounts for 36.01% of Bihar's population, according to the 2022 caste-based survey. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which won five out of the 20 seats it contested in 2020, has not deployed any BLAs due to limited resources. 'We are planning to contest in at least 50 seats, and are deploying people to assist our voter base to fill enumeration forms along with the documents,' said AIMIM Bihar spokesperson Adil Hasan. BJP spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan accused the opposition parties of needlessly blowing the issue out of proportion. The ECI pointed to the increase in the number of BLAs when representatives of 11 parties met top ECI officials to raise their concerns about the electoral roll revision on Wednesday. Congress lawmaker Abhishek Singhvi, who was among the leaders who met the ECI, said the increase in the BLAs after the revision announcement was among the reasons cited for going ahead with the exercise. 'I pointed out that there is no contradiction in [ECI] make a new rule, we have no option but to increase our BLAs. But that does not mean we cannot ask you [ECI] any question or ask you to change the rule if the rule is wrong.' On June 24, the ECI announced the revision, emphasising the need to clean the electoral roll due to rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, increasing numbers of first-time voters, non-reporting of deaths, and the inclusion of names of undocumented foreigners. The ECI has said an electoral roll revision was last held in Bihar in 2003, which covered nearly 50 million people, underlining it has a constitutional obligation to ensure that only citizens are on it. It instructed the electoral registration officers to treat the 2003 electoral roll as 'probative evidence of eligibility, including presumption of citizenship unless they receive any other input otherwise.'
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Two-day workshop on sustainable gaushalas kicks off in Ranchi
Ranchi: The Jharkhand govt has initiated efforts to make gaushalas (cowsheds) across the state self-reliant with an aim to strengthen the rural economy and promote sustainable agriculture. It was announced during a two-day national workshop on emerging challenges and opportunities in cattle care, organised by the Jharkhand Cow Welfare Commission, which began on Thursday in Ranchi. The event brought together veterinary experts, policymakers, researchers, and cattle rearers from across the country to discuss how cattle can be integrated into modern economic systems without compromising ecological balance. "Traditionally, gaushalas were limited to grants and basic support. But with the help of govt, we are now working towards making them economically independent. We've already physically surveyed all registered gaushalas, and initiated new models like the 'Jharkhand Go Gram', which aims to train 5,500 rural women in cow-based enterprises," said Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, president of the commission. From cow dung-based incense sticks and lamps to bio-fertilizers and online product sales, the state is looking to create a sustainable market chain around cattle by-products. "This is not just about tradition, it's about livelihood, empowerment, and climate responsibility," Ranjan added. Agriculture minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey who inaugurated the workshop, said, "Many states have cow welfare commissions, but very few show the commitment we are seeing in Jharkhand. Gaushalas here are being turned into hubs of self-sufficiency," she said, while acknowledging gaps in support and funding. She added that Rs 2.5 crore in aid was distributed to registered cowsheds last year, and the govt is working to ensure timely disbursal of grants. The workshop, attended by experts from states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat, included technical sessions on cow entrepreneurship, ecological benefits of livestock, and the role of indigenous breeds in health and nutrition.
India Gazette
31-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
JDU's Rajeev Ranjan Prasad assumes charge as Vice Chairman of Bihar Upper Caste Commission
Patna (Bihar) [India], May 31 (ANI): JDU leader Rajeev Ranjan Prasad assumed office as the Vice Chairman of the Bihar State Commission for Development of Upper Castes on Saturday. 'Based on data from the Caste Survey, we believe the challenges during this Commission's tenure will be met with timely recommendations to the state government, and its role will be crucial. The responsibility lies with the newly nominated members of the Commission, who are all capable individuals entrusted by the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar. Many good people have been appointed to various commissions, and work will progress across all fronts...' Prasad told ANI. He further stated that the Commission continued to be dedicated to upper caste development and added that, with the caste survey data, its role had become more important. 'This continues to be the only commission dedicated to upper caste development. Following the Centre's decision on EWS (Economically Weaker Sections), the state government also implemented it. With the Caste Survey data and these developments, the Commission's role becomes even more important...' he added. Earlier on May 30, ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mahachandra Prasad Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Commission. The Bihar General Administration Department issued the official notification on Thursday. Singh has been appointed for a three-year term. The move comes at a time when the state is witnessing significant political realignments. Former Union Minister and ex-JD(U) leader Ram Chandra Prasad Singh recently merged his political outfit Aap Sabki Awaz (ASA) with the Jan Suraaj Party led by Prashant Kishor. Singh had left the JD(U) in 2023, joined the BJP, and later launched his own party in 2024, announcing plans to contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls. The Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held later this year. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, is aiming to retain power, while the opposition INDIA bloc is preparing to challenge the incumbent Nitish Kumar-led government. (ANI)
