Akhilesh Yadav Criticizes SIR Process as NDA Takes Strong Lead in Bihar Elections

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's initial response to the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) definitive lead over the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar centered on criticizing the Election Commission's special intensive revision (SIR) process.

New Delhi:

Akhilesh Yadav, who leads the Samajwadi Party, launched his first commentary on the NDA's substantial lead in Bihar by targeting the pre-election special intensive revision (SIR), a procedure implemented by the Election Commission designed to purify voter lists.

In his remarks, Yadav attributed the NDA's advantageous position to the SIR process in Bihar. Seemingly attempting to downplay the NDA's grassroots efforts, he claimed that this "SIR game" would prove ineffective in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and elsewhere.

"The electoral manipulation executed through SIR in Bihar will not succeed in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, or other regions because this electoral conspiracy has now been uncovered," declared the Samajwadi Party leader in his social media post on X.

As of 12:42 pm today, the NDA was leading in 193 constituencies, while the Mahagathbandhan trailed significantly with 45, and other parties claimed 5 seats. The majority threshold in the 243-seat assembly stands at 122.

"We will prevent them from continuing this strategy... We shall remain vigilant and defeat the BJP's schemes. The BJP isn't a political party but a deception," Yadav asserted.

In his original Hindi statement posted on X, Yadav wrote that their 'PPTV' or 'PDA Prahari' would remain alert like CCTV cameras to thwart BJP's plans.

Leaders from the NDA have characterized the Opposition's criticism of the SIR procedure as mere frustration from electoral defeat. They suggest that unable to secure victory, opposition parties are attempting to generate disorder by assaulting independent institutions. NDA representatives have noted that these same political entities complaining about SIR would remain silent had they been leading instead.

In response to Yadav's comments, BJP leader Raj Bhushan Nishad informed NDTV that the Samajwadi Party chief should recognize it's not too late to acknowledge the significance of the SIR process in eliminating fraudulent voters, particularly illegal immigrants.

"Instead, we have witnessed how individuals like Akhilesh Yadav ji have supported illegal immigrants," he remarked.