Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, has questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar about his feelings regarding the opposition’s influence. Yadav’s query came in response to Kumar’s announcement of a domicile policy for government jobs on Monday. Yadav suggested the Chief Minister share his experience of copying and mimicking the opposition’s announcements.
Yadav stated it was a matter of great joy that the ideologically bankrupt NDA government, which had previously rejected the demand for a domicile policy in Bihar, was now implementing it. He pointed out that the government, which had adamantly refused to implement the policy in the Assembly, was now replicating it, much like other initiatives.
He argued that the NDA government, in its 20 years, lacked its own policies, vision, and foresight. Yadav found it amusing that the government, which had been indecisive for two decades, was now following the opposition’s lead. He cited examples like social security pensions, free electricity, government jobs, and increases in the honorariums of various workers, all of which the government had copied.
In response to these developments, Kumar has made several announcements in recent days. The opposition has asserted that these are a direct result of their pressure.
Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed in a Patna police station, requesting an investigation into the issuance of two voter ID cards in favor of Tejashwi Yadav. The Election Commission had earlier asked Yadav to submit the voter ID card he claimed to possess for examination, as it had not been officially issued.
The Election Commission has clarified that the opposition leader’s EPIC number has not been changed. A local individual filed the complaint at the Digha police station. The officer stated that the complaint had been forwarded to the district election office. Further action may be taken after receiving instructions from election officials. Yadav had alleged that the Election Commission had changed his EPIC number in the draft voter list published under a special intensive revision in the state.
The Congress party has criticized the Election Commission, accusing it of working at the behest of the BJP-led NDA government. They allege that the commission is attempting to disenfranchise the poor and marginalized through the special intensive revision of the voter list in Bihar.
Congress leaders have claimed that the Election Commission intentionally removed the names of numerous real voters, particularly those from marginalized communities, at the direction of the central government. They also stated that the commission disregarded Supreme Court suggestions regarding the use of Aadhaar cards as proof of voter registration. They accused the Election Commission of a conspiracy to benefit the ruling parties in Bihar, specifically the BJP and the Janata Dal (United). The Congress party vowed to prevent this.
They argued that the people of Bihar would not forgive the NDA government for attempting to strip real voters of their constitutional rights and predicted the NDA would be ousted from power in the upcoming assembly elections. The Congress leader accused the Bihar NDA government and the Election Commission of undermining the constitutional rights of the people.
Furthermore, it has been alleged that despite Supreme Court recommendations, the Election Commission has remained steadfast in its position. It appears that the central government, led by Narendra Modi, does not trust the judiciary or the Chief Justice of India. This is evident in the government’s removal of the CJI from the three-member panel that selects the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.