I.N.D.I.A Bloc Dismayed After Meeting ECI Over Voter List

"ECI seemed to be disinclined to accept our submission": Singhvi of Cong "We saw lack of concern from the Election Commission": Manoj Jha of RJD

- ANAND SINGH

Leaders of 11 I.N.D.I.A bloc parties met the Election Commission (EC) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar and raised their concerns, and alleged that over two crore voters of the state may be disenfranchised by this exercise being done just ahead of assembly elections later this year.

Leaders from 11 parties, including the Congress, RJD, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, NCP-SP and Samajwadi Party met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other Election Commissioners, objecting to the special scrutiny being conducted just a few months ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar.

Briefing the media after the almost three-hour marathon meeting, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "A minimum figure of two crore persons may be disenfranchised in this exercise as many, especially, the SCs/STs, migratory and impoverished among the nearly eight crore voters in Bihar, may not be in a position to present their and their parents' birth certificates to the poll authorities in such a short period of time."

Singhvi claimed that they would also not be able to challenge the removal of their names from the electoral rolls as polls would begin by then and courts do not hear challenges when elections are underway.