Bihar is experiencing heightened political activity, with the ongoing debate surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the opposition, alleges that the Election Commission is in cahoots with the BJP to steal votes. He claims that the ECI is assisting BJP leaders in obtaining duplicate voter ID cards. Conversely, JDU leaders have dismissed these accusations, with Shrawan Kumar, the Rural Development Minister, accusing the opposition of relying on baseless claims. As a response, the ECI has issued a notice to the Mayor of Muzaffarpur, a BJP member, concerning her possession of two voter ID cards, mandating a response by August 16. This situation reveals the complexities and tensions within Bihar’s political environment.
Shrawan Kumar, Bihar’s Rural Development Minister, accused the opposition of focusing on unfounded accusations. He claimed that the opposition’s questioning of the Election Commission’s voter revision drive to remove deceased and ineligible voters demonstrates their frustration. The minister highlighted the advancement in basic infrastructure, such as electricity, education, and healthcare, over the last two decades, acknowledging the efforts of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar since 2005, which have positively impacted even rural regions.
JDU’s National Spokesperson, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, criticized the opposition’s campaign against SIR. He stated that the Supreme Court’s stance on SIR confirms its legality and public confidence. The court affirmed that the SIR process complies with constitutional principles and is being conducted impartially by the Election Commission. The court also clarified that neither Aadhaar nor voter ID cards can serve as proof of citizenship. Prasad argued that the court’s remarks vindicate the Election Commission’s reforms and suggest the opposition’s resistance is a mere political tactic.
The Election Commission has issued a notice to Nirmala Devi, the Mayor of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, for allegedly holding two voter ID cards, requesting her response by August 16. Similar notices were also sent to two of Devi’s relatives, namely Manoj Kumar and Dilip Kumar, who are also alleged to possess voter ID cards from the same constituency. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had previously accused the Mayor and her relatives of possessing multiple voter ID cards.
Tejashwi Yadav accused the Election Commission of collaborating with the BJP to rig the elections. He alleged that the ECI is helping BJP leaders acquire multiple voter ID cards. He stated that the ECI is working with the BJP to steal votes in Bihar before the forthcoming assembly elections. According to him, the draft electoral roll issued by the Election Commission after the initial SIR process should be viewed as an act of vote robbery. He claimed that the BJP’s potential candidate for the upcoming assembly elections, the Muzaffarpur Mayor, has two voter ID cards, each from a different polling station in the same constituency, as stated in the draft electoral roll.
The Bihar government announced the doubling of pensions for JP soldiers, who were imprisoned for supporting Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement during the Emergency. CM Nitish Kumar, a key participant in the JP movement, presided over the cabinet meeting that approved this proposal. Those JP soldiers jailed for more than six months will now receive a monthly pension of Rs 30,000, an increase from Rs 15,000, while those with shorter prison terms will see their pensions rise from Rs 7,500 to Rs 15,000.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Gaya, Bihar, on August 22, where he is anticipated to announce several significant development initiatives. An NDA meeting took place in Gaya to prepare for the PM’s visit. Representatives from the BJP, JDU, LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha attended the meeting and urged public participation in the rally.
Dr. Santosh Suman, the National President of HAM Party, emphasized that PM Modi’s visit to Gaya on August 22 will accelerate the development of the region. He indicated that thousands of party workers are actively involved in preparing for the PM’s welcome and the rally’s success. Suman noted that the PM will inaugurate projects totaling Rs 1675 crore for Gaya’s development, including the proposed industrial corridor, which will play a critical role in boosting Bihar’s growth.
