RJD moves SC against EC’s electoral roll revision in Bihar
The Tejashwi Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) directive to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The move comes ahead of the state’s polls, which are scheduled to take place later this year.
The RJD has claimed that the electoral roll revision exercise is aimed at disenfranchising a large number of voters, particularly from the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), and that it is a “blatant attempt” to influence the election outcome.
According to the news report, the RJD has sought an urgent hearing on the matter, and senior advocate Kapil Sibal will represent the party in the Supreme Court. The party has also requested the court to stay the electoral roll revision exercise until the matter is decided.
The ECI had announced the electoral roll revision exercise in Bihar in December last year, citing the need to update the electoral rolls and ensure that the voting process is free and fair. The exercise is expected to involve the deletion of duplicate and dead voters, as well as the addition of new voters who have turned 18 years old or have become citizens of India.
However, the RJD has claimed that the electoral roll revision exercise is a “conspiracy” to disenfranchise a large number of voters, particularly from the SCs and STs. The party has alleged that the exercise is aimed at reducing the number of voters from these communities, which are traditionally supporters of the RJD.
The RJD has also claimed that the electoral roll revision exercise is a “violation” of the principles of equal representation and the right to vote, as enshrined in the Constitution. The party has requested the Supreme Court to intervene and stay the electoral roll revision exercise until the matter is decided.
The RJD’s move is seen as a major challenge to the ECI’s authority, and the outcome of the case is likely to have far-reaching implications for the upcoming polls in Bihar. The polls are expected to be a closely contested affair, with several parties, including the RJD, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Janata Dal (United), vying for power.
The ECI has so far not commented on the RJD’s move, but the development is likely to add to the existing tensions between the poll panel and opposition parties. The RJD’s move is seen as a bid to challenge the ECI’s authority and to ensure that the electoral roll revision exercise is conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The RJD’s decision to approach the Supreme Court has been welcomed by several opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left parties. The parties have claimed that the electoral roll revision exercise is a “blatant attempt” to influence the election outcome, and that the ECI is acting at the behest of the ruling BJP.
The development is also seen as a major boost to the RJD’s prospects in the upcoming polls. The party has been facing a tough time in recent years, with several of its leaders and workers being arrested and booked on various charges. The party’s move to challenge the ECI’s directive is seen as a bid to revive its fortunes and to challenge the BJP’s dominance in the state.
In conclusion, the RJD’s move to challenge the ECI’s directive to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is a significant development in the run-up to the state’s polls. The move is seen as a bid to challenge the ECI’s authority and to ensure that the electoral roll revision exercise is conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The outcome of the case is likely to have far-reaching implications for the upcoming polls in Bihar, and it remains to be seen how the ECI will respond to the RJD’s challenge.
