Election Commission Demands Explanation Over Minister's Controversial Remarks
The Election Commission of India has initiated a formal investigation into Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari's controversial statements about booth-level officers during a government program in Jamtara. The commission has given Jamtara Deputy Commissioner Ravi Anand, who also serves as the district election officer, until Thursday to submit a comprehensive report on the incident.
Minister Ansari, who represents the Congress party, allegedly urged people to lock up booth-level officers (BLOs) when they visit homes for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The controversial comments were made during a public event held in Jamtara on Sunday, creating significant political turmoil.
Viral Video and Political Fallout
A video capturing the minister's statements quickly went viral across social media platforms, amplifying the controversy. In the footage, Ansari is clearly heard instructing people to confine BLOs during their home visits and immediately inform him about such actions.
The minister justified his unusual request by referencing the special intensive revision exercise conducted in neighboring Bihar. He claimed that 65 lakh voters were removed from electoral rolls in Bihar, while BJP gained 22 lakh new voters of their preference. According to Ansari, this manipulation directly contributed to the INDIA bloc's defeat in the Bihar assembly elections.
Minister's Defense and Opposition Reaction
Facing severe criticism from opposition parties who demanded his immediate removal from office, Minister Ansari has maintained that his words were deliberately misinterpreted. Speaking to media representatives on Tuesday, the minister clarified his position, stating he had already submitted his explanation to the Election Commission.
"I spoke about fake BLOs who were threatening people with deleting their names from voter lists unless they paid money," Ansari explained. "My instructions about locking up were specifically directed at these fraudulent officers, not genuine BLOs performing their duties."
The minister further alleged that some citizens had already fallen victim to these fake booth-level officers and paid them money under duress. He accused political opponents of distorting his statements to damage his reputation, specifically mentioning that BJP consistently targets him because he belongs to a minority community.
Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar confirmed that the Election Commission is awaiting the detailed report from DEO Ravi Anand, which will include Minister Ansari's official explanation regarding his controversial comments. Notably, Deputy Commissioner Anand was present on the stage when the minister made the disputed remarks, placing him in a unique position to provide firsthand account of the incident.
As the Thursday deadline approaches, political observers are closely watching how this controversy will unfold and what actions the Election Commission might take based on the findings of the investigation report.
