States » EastPosted at: Nov 5 2026 6:46PM


BJP accuses Congress, opposition of politicising SIR, spreading confusion over democracy

Patna, Nov 5 (UNI) union Environment Minister and senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav on Thursday accused the Congress and other opposition parties of politicising the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and spreading confusion in the name of protecting democracy.
Addressing a press conference here, Yadav alleged that extremist ideological elements were influencing the think tanks of opposition parties, including the Congress, RJD and Samajwadi Party, and accused them of attempting to create political unrest by questioning constitutional institutions and electoral processes.
Defending the SIR exercise in Bihar, he said it was a routine constitutional process conducted under Article 324 of the Constitution and the provisions of the Representation of the People Act. Its objective was to remove the names of deceased, permanently shifted and, duplicate voters while ensuring that all eligible citizens were included in the electoral rolls, he added.
Yadav claimed that nearly 7.89 crore voters in Bihar had been covered through door-to-door verification. Draft electoral rolls were also shared with political parties, but only two objections were filed by around 1.60 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs), he said, referring to proceedings in the Supreme Court.
He alleged that although the Congress claimed that 89 lakh voters had been deleted, the party failed to raise objections through the prescribed statutory mechanism.
Recalling Bihar's contribution to the country's democratic movement, Yadav said the state had played a significant role in the struggle against the Emergency imposed by the Congress in 1975 under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan.
He said the BJP's ''Democracy Bachao, Arajakta Hatao'' campaign was aimed at countering what he described as misinformation surrounding the electoral revision exercise and creating public awareness about democratic institutions.
Taking a swipe at the opposition, Yadav said parties accepted electoral outcomes when they won but questioned the electoral process when defeated. He cited their differing responses to election results in Kerala and Bihar, alleging that such positions undermined public confidence in democratic institutions.
On illegal infiltration, the BJP leader said Indian citizenship and the minimum age of 18 years were essential conditions for voting under Article 326 of the Constitution. He maintained that eligible citizens would not be deprived of their voting rights and that ineligible entries would be removed through due process.
On Delhi's air pollution, Yadav said the government was taking several measures, including restrictions on construction activities, work-from-home arrangements, and an integrated action plan for the National Capital Region.
He also urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to participate in parliamentary discussions, saying meaningful dialogue was essential for strengthening democracy.
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Tags: #BJP accuses Congress# opposition of politicising SIR# spreading confusion over democracy
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