New Delhi, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : The decision by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to conduct a Special Intensive Review (SIR) of the voter list has sparked significant political unrest across India, particularly from Maharashtra to Delhi. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress have united against Kumar, accusing him of acting on behalf of the ruling party. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have dismissed the opposition’s protest as mere vote bank politics.
Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Kadam addressed the recent murder of a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, calling it a “tragic incident.” He assured that the police are investigating thoroughly and that there will be no outside pressure on the inquiry. “We have instructed the police to explore every angle,” he stated, urging the victim’s family to remain calm. Kadam confirmed that several individuals are in custody and promised that justice will be served as more facts emerge.
In response to Aditya Thackeray’s statements, Kadam criticized him for past controversies, including an incident involving gelatin found beneath a prominent businessman’s residence during Thackeray’s tenure as minister. “It’s ironic for him to speak about integrity,” Kadam remarked.
He emphasized that the investigation into the murder is just beginning and reiterated that all aspects, including the source of weapons used, will be scrutinized. Kadam further criticized the opposition’s protests against Gyanesh Kumar, labeling them as politically motivated. He noted that the SIR process has been conducted every 24 years, including during Congress’s previous governance.
Kadam highlighted the importance of the review, stating that it aims to eliminate fraudulent and duplicate votes from the list. “Many illegal immigrants have found their names on the voter list and need to be removed,” he added.
He pointed out that the Election Commission has appointed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and that each political party has designated booth agents to monitor the process. “Why didn’t they raise objections when the BLOs were conducting their surveys?” Kadam questioned.
He reassured that individuals whose names are absent from the list have the opportunity to present documents to reinstate their eligibility. Speaking on the protests, he dismissed them as ineffective, stating that the police would manage any unrest, especially in restricted areas like Shivaji Park.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s six demands have drawn criticism from BJP MP Naresh Bansal, who accused the Congress of being unable to accept the loss of their traditional vote bank due to the removal of fraudulent entries from the voter list. “This isn’t the first time; in 2013, millions of votes were purged for the same reason,” Bansal noted, emphasizing the necessity of a clean voter list.
He asserted that Kumar’s actions are aimed at protecting the integrity of the electoral process, which has evidently upset the opposition. “The removal of these votes prevents them from returning to power,” Bansal concluded.
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