The opposition leaders reiterated that the House proceedings will not continue until there is a dedicated discussion on SIR, demanding the withdrawal of the current voter list revision campaign.
PATNA — Bihar Legislative Assembly continued to cause stormy scenes at the ongoing nmonsoon session for the fourth day. Opposition MLAs are demanding a special discussion in the House on the ongoing voter list revision (SIR) in the state.
Mahagathbandhan MLAs arrived wearing black clothes, raising slogans inside and outside the Assembly, protesting alleged irregularities in the voter list revision.
The opposition alleges that the Election Commission of India, in collusion with the government, is conspiring to remove the names of the poor and disadvantaged voters from the voter list, impacting the upcoming elections. The issue has now escalated to the High Court and the Supreme Court.
The opposition leaders reiterated that the House proceedings will not continue until there is a dedicated discussion on SIR, demanding the withdrawal of the current voter list revision campaign.
During the debate, Bihar’s Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav questioned the timing, transparency, and documentation requirements for SIR – the Election Commission’s contentious exercise to update electoral rolls.
“The Constitution grants the right to vote to every person above 18 years, regardless of wealth or status. This equality must not be infringed,” he said.
The Opposition, he insisted, “wasn’t against the SIR itself” but opposed the process. Referring to complaints cited by the Election Commission about non-resident and ‘external’ voters.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister cum Finance Minister Samrat Chaudhary, who had presented the supplementary budget on July 21, said it will be discussed on the day. The Social Welfare Department’s budget — which has received the highest allocation in the supplementary budget — is scheduled for detailed discussion.
On July 21, Samrat Choudhary had presented a supplementary budget exceeding Rs 57,946 crore in the Assembly. The state government will also present the CAG report in the House.
The voter list revision ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections has become a flashpoint between the ruling NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan.
While the government maintains that the revision process is necessary for fair elections, the opposition claims that the process is flawed, poorly timed during the rainy and farming season, and threatens to disenfranchise the poor and migrant voters. — With inputs fom IANS
