
Is Election Commission's Bihar poll roll revision deadline impractical? Experts debate

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The Hindu
4 minutes ago
- The Hindu
100% proof of ECI allowing cheating, will not allow poll body to get away with it: Rahul Gandhi
The Congress has "concrete 100% proof" that the Election Commission allowed cheating in a constituency in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday (July 24, 2025) and warned the poll panel that it will not get away with this "because we are going to come for you". Mr. Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission is not functioning as the Election Commission of India, and is "not doing its job". Asked about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's reported remarks that the option of boycotting Bihar Assembly polls was open, Mr. Gandhi told reporters that his party has "concrete 100 per cent proof" of the Election Commission allowing cheating in a seat in Karnataka. "Not 90%, when we decide to show it to you, it is a 100% proof," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. "We just looked at one constituency and we found this. I am absolutely convinced that constituency after constituency this is the drama that is taking place. Thousands and thousands of new voters, how old are they? -- 45, 50, 60, 65, thousands and thousands of them in one constituency. This is one thing, voter deletion, voter addition, new voters who are way above 18 (is going on)... so we have caught them," he said. "I want to send a message to the Election Commission — if you thing you are going to get away with this, if your officers think they are going to get away with this, you are mistaken, you are not going to get away with this because we are going to come for you," Mr. Gandhi told reporters in Parliament House premises. The Congress leader on Wednesday alleged that elections are being "stolen" in India and claimed that his party has figured out the modus operandi of the "votes theft" by studying a Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka. Gandhi said he would put before the people and the Election Commission in black in white on how the "theft of votes" is being done. His remarks came after it emerged that during house-to-house visit in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral roll in Bihar, poll officials have so far found that more than 52 lakh voters were not present at their addresses. The opposition has been protesting in both houses of Parliament against the SIR, alleging that the EC's exercise was aimed at disenfranchising voters in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections.


Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
'No Bangladeshis, only Bengali workers in my Bengaluru hotel': Mithun Chakraborty counters Mamata Banerjee's claims on migrants; calls out fear narrative
NEW DELHI: BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty on Thursday dismissed West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee 's recent claims that Bengali migrant workers were being targeted in other states. Chakraborty termed the remarks as an attempt to stir unnecessary controversy and spread fear among the public. Responding to Banerjee's concerns over the safety of Bengali-speaking migrants, Chakraborty said, 'These are all lies. I opened a hotel in Bengaluru where most of the workers were Bengali migrants. There were no Bangladeshis. But if someone is Bangladeshi, they will obviously be identified as Bangladeshi.' You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata He accused the chief minister of politicising the issue. 'She wants to create controversy in everything. Nothing is going to happen. Bangla language will remain as it is. Mamata Banerjee has got no monopoly over it. We will put up a strong fight,' he said. Chakraborty also criticised Banerjee's call to gherao the Election Commission over alleged voter list tampering in Bengal and Bihar. "She (Mamata) has no other option, but this will definitely happen. The Election Commission must act. Fake and bogus voters have to be removed, only then will elections be fair. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo Even if the Commission is gheraoed, what will that achieve? What's the point (of such protests)' he added. The BJP leader's remarks come amid heightened political tension in West Bengal, with the TMC alleging discrimination against Bengali-speaking citizens and raising concerns over the legitimacy of the electoral rolls and local entrepreneurship.


News18
28 minutes ago
- News18
'Keeping Option Open': Tejashwi Yadav Again Warns Of Poll Boycott Amid Bihar SIR Row
Last Updated: Questioning the credibility of the Bihar polls, Tejashwi Yadav warned that the Mahagathbandhan may boycott the Bihar elections if the voter roll revision exercise isn't stopped. Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday reiterated that the parties in the Mahagathbandhan could boycott the upcoming elections in Bihar if the Election Commission's voter roll revision in Bihar was not stopped. 'We are keeping the option of boycotting Bihar assembly polls open," RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, on the Special Intensive Revision row. 'When the winner in the election is already fixed, what is the use of conducting such an election?" he asked. 'Booth-level officers are putting their own signatures and thumb impressions, on behalf of voters, on enumeration forms. Blank forms are being used like waste paper," he alleged. 'Independent journalists who point out these anomalies are getting slapped with FIRs. And the government is okay with all this because the EC is acting like a political tool of the ruling dispensation," Yadav alleged. On a question of him speaking to the other leaders, Tejashwi said, 'We will speak to all leaders under the Mahagathbandhan." On Wednesday, too, Tejashwi Yadav had threatened to boycott the Bihar elections if the SIR exercise was not stopped. The same day, a high drama had unfolded in the Bihar Assembly after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's intervention during Yadav's statement on the SIR triggered a heated exchange. The situation escalated, prompting Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav to adjourn the proceedings till 2 pm, barely 30 minutes after the House had convened at 11 am. The Speaker expressed disgust over the conduct of many opposition members, who used unparliamentary language, as also those on the ruling side, who refused to back down despite repeated requests. Tejashwi Yadav, who was wearing a black T-shirt as a mark of protest against the Election Commission's exercise in the state, was allowed by the Speaker to make a statement on the issue, which had evoked protests both inside and outside the House on Tuesday. BIHAR SIR AND THE PROTESTS During house-to-house visits in the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, poll officials have so far found that more than 52 lakh voters were not present at their addresses, and another 18 lakh have died, according to the Election Commission. Opposition parties have claimed that the EC exercise will disenfranchise crores of eligible citizens. The RJD has also moved the Supreme Court against the voter roll revision in Bihar. Opposition members, who have been turning up at the state assembly for the past couple of days dressed in black as a mark of protest against the SIR, were allowed to make statements by the Speaker on Thursday. A couple of ministers also took part in the discussion. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.