Latest news with #SpecialIntensiveRevision
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: Supreme Court to hear batch of petitions challenging Bihar SIR
With the Election Commission (SC) on Saturday informing the Supreme Court that it was not required by law to publish a list of electors whose names have been removed from the voter lists of Bihar, the apex court will on Tuesday hear a batch of pleas challenging the poll body's order to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh last week said it would begin hearing these pleas on Tuesday. The Association For Democratic Reforms, which has challenged the June 24 order of the EC directing the SIR in Bihar, had last week filed a fresh application seeking direction to the poll panel to publish the names of around 65 lakh deleted voters with the mention whether they are dead, permanently migrated or not considered for any other reason. In its reply to the Association for Democratic Reforms' application, the EC said the draft roll had been published on the basis of the enumeration forms received and that 'no inquiry' had been done at this stage. In its reply filed late Saturday night, the commission cited the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which say that a copy of the draft roll is to be made available for inspection outside the Electoral Registration Officer's office and the ERO is required to make each part of the draft accessible to the public in the respective areas, and give two copies to each recognised party. 'That it is an admitted position that the Respondent has complied with the aforestated obligations. It is submitted that the statutory framework does not require the Respondent to prepare or share any separate list of names of people not included in the draft electoral rolls, or publish the reasons for non-inclusion of anyone in the draft electoral rolls for any reason,' the EC said. Andhra local body polls With local body polls to be held in Andhra Pradesh's Pulivendula and Vontimitta on Tuesday, the Opposition YSRCP has accused Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu 'conspiring' against the party. Former minister V Srinivas alleged that Naidu was 'misusing police and TDP supporters to influence the outcome'. 'Naidu is orchestrating conspiracies to thwart YSRCP's win in the Pulivendula and Vontimitta local body polls. Such tactics will ultimately fail,' Srinivas claimed. Srinivas claimed that peaceful elections would make a TDP victory impossible, accusing Naidu of turning the development-focused Pulivendula into a 'political battleground driven by vendetta.' He further alleged that the NDA coalition government had plunged Andhra Pradesh into chaos within a year, 'resorting to looting, atrocities, false SC/ST cases, and relocating polling booths to restrict voting rights.' On Tuesday, Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency elections will be held in Pulivendula and Vontimitta in the YSR Kadapa district. The region is considered a stronghold of the YSRCP – former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy is the sitting three-time MLA from Pulivendula. BJD protests in Odisha After holding a series of protests in Odisha over women's safety, the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is intensifying its agitation on Tuesday with a padyatra. While a 20-year-old FM College woman student died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar of self-immolation on the night of July 14 protesting denial of justice over a sexual harassment case, the minor girl of Balanga area in Puri district died on August 2 at AIIMS, Delhi after being allegedly set ablaze by three miscreants on July 19. The Opposition parties have been agitating over the two incidents for some time. On Tuesday, the party's padayatra will begin from the spot where the girl was set afire at Balanga to Nimapara. – With PTI inputs
News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Daily Digest: SC Takes Up Bihar Voter List Case Dharali Flood Aftermath
Bihar SIR Case in Supreme Court: SC hears pleas against EC's Special Intensive Revision in poll-bound Bihar; opposition MPs detained during protest vs EC: Rahul Gandhi refuses to sign oath documents, says EC data is already public; Govt accuses him of undermining constitutional Dials PM Modi: Ukraine seeks India's support for peace amid Trump tariff threats; PM reiterates call for early, peaceful Tariff Tensions: Govt briefs Shashi Tharoor-led panel on US-India trade talks, tariff disputes, and market Political Fallout: KN Rajanna resigns as minister; BJP slams Congress over 'emergency mindset'.SC on Stray Dogs: Landmark order to sterilise and relocate strays in Delhi-NCR, with strict legal warnings against Ground Report: Heartbreaking visuals after cloudburst — destroyed homes, temples, and lives; CM Dhami orders strict construction ban near Cabinet meet at 1 PM, Tiranga Bike Rally in Delhi, flare-up in UP's Fatehpur, and Hockey Junior Men's Nationals in Jalandhar. n18oc_indian18oc_politicsn18oc_podcastNews18 Mobile App -
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Oppn takes out protest march against SIR
New Delhi: Opposition MPs, including Leaders of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, took out a protest march on Monday from the Parliament House to the Election Commission against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged "vote chori" but were stopped midway by the police and detained amid high drama. Police put up barricades outside PTI Building on the way to prevent the MPs, protesting the voter roll revision in Bihar and the alleged poll rigging, from marching forward. As the MPs were stopped, many of them sat on the road and raised slogans while some women MPs, including saree-clad TMC's Mahua Moitra and the Congress' Sanjana Jatav and Jothimani, climbed the barricading and raised slogans against the EC. They were later whisked away by police in buses lined up along the road and taken to the Parliament Street Police Station. All the MPs were later released. "This fight is not political, but it is aimed at saving the Constitution. This fight is for 'one man, one vote' and we want a clean, pure voter list," Rahul Gandhi said as he was being taken away in a bus after being detained. "They cannot talk as the truth is before the entire nation....," he said. TMC's Moitra and Mitali Bag also fainted during the protest and were helped by Rahul Gandhi. Kharge, who was also detained from outside the PTI building, said the protest against 'vote chori' and SIR is a fight to protect people's right to vote and a struggle to save democracy and the INDIA bloc will expose this BJP's conspiracy. In a post on X, he said, "BJP's cowardly dictatorship will not work!". "This is a fight to protect the people's right to vote. This is a struggle to save democracy," he said. "The allies of the INDIA bloc will surely expose this BJP conspiracy to shred the Constitution," Kharge said in his post in Hindi. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that democracy was being "assaulted and murdered" right outside Parliament, as opposition MPs were stopped from taking out their protest march to the Election Commission office. "Our demand from the EC was very clear, all opposition MPs are staging a peaceful march, at the end of the march, collectively, we wish to present a memorandum on SIR and other issues, we didn't ask for a delegation. The language was clear, collectively, all opposition MPs would like to handover a memorandum to the EC. Now we are not allowed to even reach Nirvachan Sadan, we are stopped at PTI building. Right in front of Parliament, democracy is being assaulted, democracy murdered. This is too clever, cheeky reply by the ECI," he said. "Chunav Aayog is Chunav Aayog, it cannot be churao aayog," Ramesh said. Wearing white caps with a red cross on the words 'SIR' and "vote chori", the protesting MPs started their march from Parliament's Makar Dwar raising slogans against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and "vote chori" while carrying placards and banners. Before embarking on the protest march, they sang the national anthem at Parliament's Makar Dwar. Police had made elaborate arrangements and placed barricades outside the PTI building on Parliament street to stop the protesting MPs from moving forward. The police asked the MPs not to proceed further and made announcement through a loudspeaker that only 30 people are allowed, and they should send their representatives forward, as they were prevented from moving forward to the Election Commission headquarters, a short distance from Parliament House. Prominent among those who participated in the march were NCP-SP's Sharad Pawar, T R Baalu (DMK), Sanjay Raut (SS-UBT), Derek O'Brien (TMC), Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, as well as other MPs from Opposition parties like the DMK, the RJD, Left parties. AAP leaders, including Sanjay Singh, also took part in the protest march.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
30 Oppn MPs were invited for meeting, no one turned up: Election Commission
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday said it had invited Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and up to 30 Opposition MPs for a meeting at noon, but the delegation did not attend. This came as a response to the Opposition MPs staging a protest march from Parliament to the commission's headquarters. Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, party MPs KV Venugopal, Pramod Tiwar and other INDIA bloc leaders during their protest march to the Election Commission from the Parliament, over the Special Intensive Revision of Bihar's electoral rolls and alleging voter fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, in New Delhi on Monday.(ANI) In a letter on Sunday, the ECI wrote to Ramesh: 'The Commission has considered the request made therein and decided to give an appointment for an interaction at 12:00 PM on 11.08.2025 (Monday) at Sukumar Sen Hall, 7th Floor, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi… due to limitation of space, names of up to 30 persons along with vehicle numbers may kindly be intimated at the e-mail [election@ (mailto:election@ This was written in response to Ramesh's letter to the commission informing it of the march and saying, "Thereafter, the MPs wish to collectively meet with the Commission on a host of issues including but not limited to SIR of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar and proposed to be undertaken in other states as well.' Also Read | Fainting, jumping barricades & detention: What went down at INDIA bloc's protest march ECI said Ramesh acknowledged the letter but did not provide the list, and the opposition staged a protest instead. Senior ECI officials said, 'Jairam Ramesh had acknowledged yesterday, the invitation for 30 MPs to meet ECI today at 12 Noon. Now he has changed his tone… How does one trust INC? They agreed to come with 30 MPs and then find ways to run away from EC.' In a post on X, shared along with the copy of a letter, Ramesh said: 'Here is our original request to the ECI. It is for the Opposition MPs to collectively hand over a memorandum and NOT for just a delegation' The ECI also pressed upon Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to either submit a signed declaration or 'apologise to the country'. On August 7, Gandhi said, 'We found 100,250 votes stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, in a building with 50–60 people living. But, when we go there, there is no record of those people...' The ECI said on Sunday, 'If Shri Rahul Gandhi believes in his analysis and believes that his allegations against the Election Staffs are true he should have no problem in submitting claims and objections against specific voters and sign the Declaration/Oath as per Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rule, 1960.' The BJD on Monday said that it will approach the Orissa high court to seek clarity on alleged discrepancies in the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections. BJD leader Amar Patnaik said the party had submitted a memorandum to the ECI in December 2023 highlighting 'serious discrepancies' in the poll data. 'ECI has failed to address our concerns or provide satisfactory answers. We would soon move HC on these discrepancies,' he said.
Mint
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
After Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge hosts INDIA bloc dinner in Delhi, Opposition unity reaffirmed
Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, hosted a dinner for leaders of the INDIA Alliance in New Delhi on Monday. The gathering, attended by prominent Opposition figures, was described by the Congress as 'more than just a dinner' and a "powerful reaffirmation of unity." "In the heart of New Delhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed INDIA alliance leaders to an evening that was more than just dinner – it was a powerful reaffirmation of unity. Bound by a shared commitment to uphold the Constitution and protect our democracy, the gathering radiated camaraderie, mutual respect and unwavering resolve," read a post with pictures by Congress on X. Top leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were seen interacting with representatives from various alliance partners. The dinner was hosted hours after scores of the INDIA bloc leaders, including Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and other party representatives, were detained by the Delhi police during an attempted march to the Election Commission of India against 'vote chori' allegations and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar. New Delhi, Aug 11 (ANI): Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party MP Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party MPs Jaya Bachchan and Dimple Yadav, during a dinner hosted for opposition MPs by Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge, in New Delhi on Monday. (AICC/ANI Photo) Other leaders, such as Jaya Bachchan, AAP MP Sanjay Singh; Independent MP from Purnia, Pappu Yadav; Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi; NCP SCP MP Supriya Sule; JMM MP Mahua Maji, among others, attended the dinner. Speaking after the dinner, AAP MP Sanjay Singh emphasised the opposition's joint stance on the SIR "We are together on the SIR issue. All opposition parties are together. The whole country is affected by the SIR issue. People believe that the country's elections, state elections, including the Delhi elections, have been won through a scam," Singh told news agency ANI. Kharge's dinner came two days after Rahul Gandhi hosted INDIA bloc leaders for a dinner in the national capital. The gathering, attended by nearly 50 leaders from over 25 parties, focused on the contentious SIR and Rahul Gandhi's explosive allegations of large-scale electoral fraud. The dinner hosted by Rahul Gandhi on 7 August was the first physical meeting of the INDIA bloc after the one held a day after the Lok Sabha elections at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's home in New Delhi. During Monday's dinner, Pappu Yadav, an independent MP from Purnia, struck a combative tone, asserting that the INDIA bloc's mission was to restore people's rights. New Delhi, Aug 11 (ANI): Lok Sabha LoP and party MP Rahul Gandhi with SP MP Awadhesh Prasad during a dinner hosted for opposition MPs by Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge, in New Delhi on Monday. (AICC/ANI Photo) This is for emotions. Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, we will uproot those who have usurped the rights of the people of our country. "This is for emotions. Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, we will uproot those who have usurped the rights of the people of our country. The strong leadership of Rahul Gandhi and the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) has already made it clear that the Prime Minister of the country has been placed on the chair by stealing votes. The PM is not the PM of the people, he is the PM who steals votes," Yadav said.
