Maharashtra MLA Urges Opposition Unity to Safeguard Electoral Roll Revision
In a significant political development, Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East, Rais Shaikh, has issued a clarion call for the immediate establishment of a unified Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising all opposition parties in Maharashtra. The primary objective of this committee would be to rigorously monitor and ensure complete transparency and fairness in the state's proposed "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) process of electoral rolls.
Urgent Legislative Meeting Proposed
MLA Shaikh has emphasized that an urgent meeting should be convened during the ongoing budget session of the state legislature. This meeting would facilitate a detailed discussion on the critical issue and help finalize a concrete, actionable plan to oversee the SIR process. In his formal communications, Shaikh has reached out to key opposition leaders, including state Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal, NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, stressing the absolute necessity for coordinated and decisive action.
Risks of Irregularities and Voter Exclusion
Expressing deep concern, Shaikh highlighted the potential for serious irregularities during the execution of the Special Intensive Revision. He warned that there is a tangible risk of names belonging to minority communities, marginalized sections, and ordinary citizens being unlawfully and arbitrarily removed from the official voters' list. Citing past instances where similar complaints emerged in various regions, the MLA underscored that ensuring transparency, legal accuracy, and justice in the SIR process is not just important but essential for democratic integrity.
Proposed Functions of the Joint Action Committee
The proposed Joint Action Committee would be tasked with several critical functions to safeguard the electoral process:
- Overseeing the entire SIR process to prevent malpractices.
- Collecting and addressing complaints from citizens and party workers.
- Initiating necessary legal steps to challenge any irregularities.
- Providing continuous guidance and support to local party leadership and workers across all constituencies.
Key Measures for Transparency and Legal Compliance
In his detailed proposal, MLA Rais Shaikh outlined several key measures that the opposition alliance should consider implementing:
- Establishing a robust monitoring mechanism to prevent the arbitrary deletion of names from electoral rolls.
- Guiding party workers in every constituency to effectively engage with the process.
- Informing citizens comprehensively about their voting rights and the revision process.
- Providing legal assistance to individuals or groups facing issues during the revision.
- Conducting a thorough legal review of the entire SIR process to ensure it adheres strictly to all rules and is conducted in a fully transparent manner.
Political Context and BJP's Parallel Move
This call for opposition unity comes against the backdrop of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently forming its own committee to monitor the Special Intensive Revision in Maharashtra. The BJP committee includes prominent figures such as Kirit Somaiya alongside other party leaders. The move by MLA Shaikh is seen as a strategic effort to consolidate opposition forces to provide a counterbalance and ensure bipartisan scrutiny of the sensitive electoral roll revision, which is fundamental to free and fair elections in the state.
