Opposition unity cracks in Bihar after voter list setback

The opposition, which was united on the issue of intensive scrutiny of voter lists, i.e., SIR, got scattered in Bihar.

- AJIT MAINDOLA

As soon as the Election Commission released the list of 65 lakh voters removed, the SIR issue disappeared, and so did the opposition's unity.

The constituent parties of the India Alliance did not show much interest in the Vote Adhikar Yatra of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha. Sources even say that RJD chief Lalu Yadav is also not happy with the behavior of Congress during the Yatra. Although Tejashwi Yadav remained with the Yatra till the last day, RJD's displeasure is being described as the real reason behind postponing the Patna rally, because the Yatra was completely taken over by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.

Rahul Gandhi's behavior has also been surprising. Despite being the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul himself raised slogans like "vote thief gaddi chhod".

When the Yatra started from Sasaram on 17 August, the issue of SIR was the most important. RJD and Congress were targeting the Election Commission and making the irregularities in the voter list an issue. Meanwhile, the Election Commission released the district-wise list of 65 lakh voters removed during SIR. The list released by the Election Commission spoiled the entire game of the opposition.

Congress and RJD could not present even one person whose name was found missing from the voter list. The list of the Election Commission turned out to be correct. After this, Congress and RJD came on the back foot and started doing politics on the issue of vote theft.