Ballia (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief and Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Thursday backed the ongoing voter list revision in Bihar, alleging the opposition intends to form a government there with the help of illegal immigrants and unauthorised voters.
Rajbhar, a key ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Uttar Pradesh, also announced that his party will contest the Bihar Assembly elections on the seats allotted by the BJP.
On the question of Bihar’s next chief minister, he said a decision would be taken only after the elections.
Rajbhar was speaking to reporters in Ballia, where he met the family of a young man who recently died by suicide.
Backing the voter revision exercise in Bihar, he said, “Before the election notification is issued, the Election Commission removes names of the deceased, adds those who have turned 18, and deletes names of those who no longer reside in the state. The opposition wants names of even those who have shifted permanently to other states to remain in the voter list, which is unreasonable.” When asked about allegations that names of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar had made their way into Bihar’s electoral rolls, Rajbhar said, “If there was no truth to this, how would such issues even come to light? Take Bengal, for instance, Bangladeshi nationals are living there. Investigations are underway, and whatever is found is being placed before the public. The opposition cannot digest this because they are eyeing power based on those votes.” “Once the probe is complete, the names of such infiltrators will be removed from the voter list. Consequently, all benefits and government schemes they were availing will also stop,” he added.
On his party’s electoral strategy in Bihar, Rajbhar said, “We are part of the NDA alliance and will contest from the seats given to us by the BJP. NDA will form government”.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on June 24 issued instructions for holding Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar. The last intensive revision for Bihar was conducted in the year 2003.
The ECI has all along maintained that the revision, being held after 22 years, will cleanse the voters’ list of ineligible people, duplicate entries and include those eligible as per law to vote.
Opposition parties have asserted that the ongoing exercise will disfranchise crores of eligible Indian citizens. PTI COR KIS APL APL DV DV
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