Unless you win, your point doesn’t matter: Khurshid on Bihar SIR
The upcoming elections in Bihar have been shrouded in controversy, with the Election Commission’s decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls being one of the major points of contention. While several political parties have expressed concerns over the exercise, Congress leader Salman Khurshid has downplayed these concerns, saying that unless you win the elections, your point doesn’t matter.
In an interview with a leading news publication, Khurshid emphasized the importance of winning the elections, stating that it is the only way to make your point count. “Unless you win the election, your point will not matter,” he said. “So we have to try to put all our efforts into winning the elections.”
Khurshid’s comments come amid allegations that the SIR exercise is biased and aimed at disenfranchising certain sections of the population. The opposition parties have been critical of the exercise, accusing the Election Commission of not providing a level playing field for all parties.
The SIR exercise is being conducted in several states, including Bihar, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The exercise involves the verification of electoral rolls to remove duplicate entries and ensure that only eligible voters are included in the rolls.
However, the opposition parties have raised concerns over the exercise, accusing the Election Commission of using it to manipulate the electoral rolls. They have also alleged that the exercise is being conducted without adequate public consultation and transparency.
Khurshid’s comments have been seen as a sign that the Congress party is willing to put aside its differences with the Election Commission and focus on winning the elections. The party has been struggling to regain its lost ground in the state, and the SIR exercise has been seen as an opportunity to level the playing field.
However, not all opposition parties are willing to accept Khurshid’s views. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress (INC) have expressed their opposition to the SIR exercise, accusing the Election Commission of trying to rig the elections.
The RJD has accused the Election Commission of not providing adequate information about the exercise, and has demanded that the commission provide a detailed explanation of the exercise and its methodology. The INC has also expressed its opposition to the exercise, accusing the Election Commission of trying to suppress the vote of certain sections of the population.
The controversy over the SIR exercise is likely to continue in the coming days, with the opposition parties likely to continue to raise their concerns and demand greater transparency and accountability from the Election Commission.
In conclusion, the controversy over the SIR exercise in Bihar is likely to have far-reaching implications for the upcoming assembly elections. While Khurshid’s comments may have been seen as a sign that the Congress party is willing to put aside its differences with the Election Commission and focus on winning the elections, the opposition parties are likely to continue to raise their concerns and demand greater transparency and accountability from the Election Commission.
As the elections approach, it remains to be seen whether the SIR exercise will have a significant impact on the outcome of the elections. However, one thing is clear – the controversy over the exercise has already become a major issue in the campaign, and is likely to continue to dominate headlines in the coming days.
