• Source:JND
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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar clapped back at Leader of the Opposition and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav in a heated debate at the Bihar Assembly on Wednesday after being questioned over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted in the state.

"The Constitution has given equal voting rights to all citizens. We are not opposing the SIR process, but there are questions on the impartiality of the Election Commission. In 2003, it took one and a half years to complete this process. It is the rainy season in Bihar right now, how will people fill the form?” Tejashwi questioned in Bihar Assembly.

"Why are Aadhaar and ration cards not being linked to this process? The Election Commission should have held a press conference on this. People are being called Bangladeshi, Nepali…This is very objectionable,” he further remarked.

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Nitish Kumar Comes Down Heavily On Tejashwi

Responding to the allegations, CM Nitish Kumar reminded the RJD leader of his parents' tenure (Lalu-Rabri) and said, "Your father was CM for seven years and then your mother was there... you were the deputy CM... What was the situation at that time? You were a child then. Whatever work we have done, we will take it before the public. I was with you... but you were not performing well so I left."

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Special Intensive Revision (SIR) In Bihar

During house-to-house visits in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral roll in Bihar, poll officials have so far found that more than 52 lakh voters were not present at their addresses and another 18 lakh have died.

The Election Commission said on Tuesday that 26 lakh electors have shifted to different constituencies, while another seven lakh have enrolled at two places.

Poll officials in the state have shared detailed lists of the 21.36 lakh electors whose enumeration forms have not been received so far and also of the nearly 52.30 lakh who are reportedly deceased or permanently shifted or have enrolled at multiple places.

From August 1 -- when draft electoral rolls will be published -- to September 1, a full one-month will be available to any member of the public to file objections to any additions, deletions and rectification in the draft poll rolls.

Functionaries said the 12 political parties which have been given a list of electors who have shifted, not found or have died will know why such names will not be included in the draft rolls.

They said political parties have been asked to connect with such voters so that they can approach the poll authorities in the state for inclusion of their names in the draft rolls.

The final roll will be published on September 30 after the due claims and objection process to ensure that no eligible citizen is excluded and no ineligible one is included.

(With PTI Inputs)