JDU MP Girdhari Yadav has opposed the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the voter list in Bihar. He mentioned that this process might question last year's Lok Sabha election outcomes.
Speaking to PTI, Girdhari Yadav suggested that the Election Commission should extend this process by at least six months, allowing eligible voters to submit their documents and removing those without voting rights. He claimed that the ongoing campaign is ‘troubling people,' especially the poor, putting them in a situation akin to a 'medical emergency.'
'Questions May Arise on the Entire Electoral Process'
Yadav stated, 'It's the harvest season. People are engaged in farming. Now, they must search for documents to submit to officials. They face severe difficulties. The Election Commission should allow at least six months and conduct this process during the summer.'
Girdhari Yadav questioned why the voter list deemed accurate during the Lok Sabha elections could be incorrect for the forthcoming assembly elections. He asked, 'Was I elected based on an inaccurate voter list? If so, it calls into question the entire electoral process.'
He highlighted that millions of migrants from Bihar might be excluded from voting due to the rushed process. He also criticized the Election Commission's timing, suggesting it hasn't properly understood the state's and its people's circumstances.
'It Took Me 10-11 Days to Gather Documents'
When questioned about his party JDU's support for the process, he clarified that he is expressing his independent opinion as a Lok Sabha MP. He shared that collecting his documents took 10-11 days, and his son in America faced even more difficulties. Yadav expressed uncertainty, saying, 'I don't know whether my son will remain a voter in Bihar.'
Despite Girdhari Yadav's opposition, JDU (an ally of the BJP) defended the SIR process, claiming its aim is to identify eligible voters so that ineligible and suspicious infiltrators cannot vote.
