EC not issuing clarification, acting like 'BJP cell': Tejashwi on Bihar SIR

PATNA: Bihar's opposition bloc and NDA claimed victory and attacked each other after SC didn't stop special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state but advised EC to consider Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards for verification.

Leader of opposition in the assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, accused EC of acting like a ' BJP cell '. "EC is creating confusion and not issuing any clarification. Why hasn't it addressed concerns of common voters?" he said Thursday.

RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said, "Those who planned to delete names of the poor, Dalits, backwards, and minorities from the electoral rolls will be shocked by SC's observations." CPI-ML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya added that the court's remarks validated widespread concerns.

However, BJP welcomed SC decision not to halt SIR. Health and law minister Mangal Pandey said, "SC dismissed opposition's baseless arguments and accepted that the poll panel is carrying out a constitutional duty. Opposition parties' real concern is to protect infiltrators and duplicate voters."

Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha said, "Opposition wants to deny genuine voters their right by spreading misinformation." JDU minister Ashok Choudhary said, "The revision is in best interest of Bihar and the country. Opposition is deliberately causing confusion."