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Reiterating the stance taken by the Centre, the BJP in Bihar said the Election Commission is an independent institution and the voter list revision is a “transparent process”
Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav during the monsoon session, in Patna on July 23. (Image: PTI)
Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday made a big statement, hinting at a possible boycott of the upcoming elections over the voter list revision exercise in the state.
Tejashwi, fresh from a fiery debate with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the state assembly, alleged that the ongoing exercise was “dishonest” in nature.
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Patna, Bihar: When asked whether the opposition could mutually decide to boycott the elections, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, “That too can be discussed. We will see what the people want and what everyone’s opinion is” pic.twitter.com/6r9fI2pCi0— IANS (@ians_india) July 23, 2025
Asked if the opposition could mutually decide to boycott the elections, Tejashwi told news agency IANS: “That too can be discussed. We will see what the people want and what everyone’s opinion is,” adding, “when everything has already been decided with dishonesty beforehand…then what’s the point of having an election?”
The BJP in Bihar, however, responded by taunting Tejashwi for being scared of losing the election. Reiterating the stance taken by the Centre, it said the Election Commission of India (ECI) is an independent institution and the revision exercise is a “transparent process”.
“Tejashwi Yadav’s statement of boycotting the elections reflects his frustration and fear of defeat. In a democracy, the voice of the people is supreme, and threatening to suppress it is undemocratic and irresponsible,” said Bihar BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar. “The Election Commission is an independent institution, and voter list revision is a transparent process, which Tejashwi is calling a conspiracy without any proof.”
The uproar in the Bihar assembly reflected the chaotic scenes from Parliament in New Delhi, where the opposition parties staged massive protests against the SIR during the ongoing monsoon session. There were repeated disruptions in both Houses as they demanded a discussion on the issue, with the Rajya Sabha finally being adjourned and the Lok Sabha also adjourned for the third consecutive day.
‘WHAT IS THIS FEAR OF FAKE VOTERS’
Earlier in the day, Tejashwi’s remarks on the SIR exercise in the Bihar assembly irked Nitish Kumar, triggering a war of words between the two. The chief minister resorted to personal attacks even as members on both the opposition and ruling sides used unparliamentary language against each other.
Tejashwi was making a statement on the revision exercise when Nitish intervened and called him a “child”. The situation escalated quickly, prompting speaker Nand Kishor Yadav to adjourn the proceedings till 2 pm, barely 30 minutes after the House had convened at 11 am.
Wearing a black T-shirt as a mark of protest against the Election Commission’s (EC) exercise in the state, he was allowed by the speaker to make a statement on the issue.
“We are not opposed to the special intensive revision per se, but how the Election Commission has been carrying out the exercise is objectionable. Why so late, when elections are just around the corner? They could have conducted it a few months earlier,” he said. “Only two-three per cent of voters in the state may have the documents that the EC is asking them to produce. What is this fear of fake voters? Does the EC mean to say fake voters have made Narendra Modi the PM and Nitish Kumar the CM. The EC has also not spoken of any foreign nationals in the voters’ list in its affidavit before the Supreme Court.”
He sought to know the fate of “nearly 4.5 crore residents of the state who are registered as voters, and come during elections from the places where they are eking out a living. The EC has threatened to strike off the names of people who were not found at their registered addresses”.
‘YOU ARE A CHILD, YOU KNOW NOTHING…’
Nitish, who seemed unhappy with the discussion being allowed, rose in his seat to intervene. “You are a child. You know nothing of matters like these. Only three days are left of this last session of the House. Let it conduct legislative business. Whatever rubbish you want to speak, you may do it to your heart’s content during elections”, he said. “When his (Yadav’s) parents were chief ministers, they did nothing, neither for the women, nor for Muslims, nor any other section of society. The only woman who got something was his mother.”
The 75-year-old longest-serving CM of Bihar has for most part been a BJP ally, except for two short-lived alliances with the RJD-Congress combine. He further told Tejashwi that he left the Mahagathbandhan because the RJD leader was “not performing well” as the deputy CM.
The CM’s cabinet colleagues were seen tugging at his sleeves to make him sit. He has lately made headlines for unrestrained behaviour in public. When he finally sat, several from the opposition side were on their feet, and those on the ruling side engaged in a shouting match.
(With agency inputs)
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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