The Bharatiya Janata Party launched a sharp critique against the opposition INDIA alliance on Saturday, accusing its constituent parties of creating confusion and a spectacle around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This attack came in response to the Samajwadi Party raising serious concerns about the credibility of the Election Commission following the publication of a draft roll in Uttar Pradesh that excluded millions of voters.
BJP Spokesperson Labels Issue a 'Yaksha Prashna' for Opposition
Addressing the media, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi stated that the SIR process has become a perplexing Yaksha prashna for the opposition parties, leaving them in a dilemma where they can neither speak openly nor remain silent. He specifically targeted the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, highlighting what he called their contradictory positions on whether the revision exercise was leading to a reduction or an addition of votes.
Trivedi cited recent statements by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leaders to illustrate the shifting stance. He pointed out that just twelve days prior, Akhilesh Yadav had claimed the BJP's votes were being cut, while earlier, Congress had alleged that opposition votes were being targeted. Now, Trivedi argued, they were saying the SIR was meant to add votes. He challenged the INDIA alliance to clearly explain whose votes, according to them, were being cut and whose were being added.
Samajwadi Party's Allegations and EC Credibility Questioned
The BJP's counter-offensive was triggered by direct allegations from Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow. Yadav expressed apprehension about the removal of voters and claimed that Uttar Pradesh BJP leaders had prior knowledge of the scale of exclusions even before the draft roll was made public on January 6.
The published draft showed that out of 15.44 crore previously listed names, 12.55 crore were retained while a significant 2.89 crore voters were excluded. Yadav questioned the Election Commission's neutrality, asking how BJP leaders could cite figures matching the final draft before its release. He demanded answers on the discrepancies between voter data used for different elections and the figures compiled by Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
The Road Ahead and Political Implications
Akhilesh Yadav announced that his party would formally seek clarifications from the Election Commission. He expressed hope that all genuine voters would be reinstated before the final electoral roll is published on March 6. The SP chief also reiterated his demand for linking voter information with Aadhaar to prevent the alleged misuse of fake identities during elections.
Meanwhile, the BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi defended the SIR as a constitutional process being executed with professional competence on a purely technical basis. Using a Hindi idiom, he mocked the opposition's inconsistent stand, saying their position changes from one moment to the next. He urged opposition parties to cooperate with the electoral revision process with seriousness and awareness, framing the entire controversy as a puzzle of the opposition's own making.
