NEW DELHI: Netas of the INDIA bloc met the Election Commission on Wednesday to question the timing of the special intensive revision (SIR) of the Bihar electoral roll, saying it comes too close to the ensuing assembly poll. They also complained that EC's guidelines, including only those who are 'ordinarily resident' in a constituency, may affect migrants who form a significant part of the Bihar electorate.
The opposition told EC that SIR could be "disastrous" as it could lead to the deletion of "tens of lakhs" of genuine voters, especially those on the margins. Eleven opposition parties that met EC comprised Congress, RJD, TMC, DMK, SP, JMM, NCP-SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML) Liberation.
EC yet to hear from oppn after Cong plea for 'urgent' meet
Congress had approached the Election Commission on June 30 seeking an "urgent" meeting "any time after 4 pm on July 2" between the poll panel and a delegation comprising 10 opposition parties to discuss the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of rolls in Bihar. However, EC, despite promptly writing back to each of the 10 parties to indicate availability of their representatives at 5 pm on July 2, is yet to hear from them.
EC sources said the "July 2" meeting with the multi-party opposition delegation thus stood deferred as no confirmations were received.
Sources told TOI that while the mail received from a legal counsel of the All India Congress Committee for the multi-party delegation's appointment with EC was unilateral - with no similar email received from the remaining nine parties or the AICC mail marked to them - the panel in its response sent the same day to each party - Congress, RJD, TMC, DMK, SP, NCP, JMM, CPI, CPM and CPI(ML) Liberation - welcoming their request and seeking their confirmations for a meeting at 5 pm on July 2. However, not one of the parties, Congress included, had responded to EC's mail till late Tuesday, said EC sources.
Even so, a TMC delegation met EC on Tuesday as part of its consultation with parties on all poll-related issues.
The opposition told EC that SIR could be "disastrous" as it could lead to the deletion of "tens of lakhs" of genuine voters, especially those on the margins. Eleven opposition parties that met EC comprised Congress, RJD, TMC, DMK, SP, JMM, NCP-SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML) Liberation.
EC yet to hear from oppn after Cong plea for 'urgent' meet
Congress had approached the Election Commission on June 30 seeking an "urgent" meeting "any time after 4 pm on July 2" between the poll panel and a delegation comprising 10 opposition parties to discuss the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of rolls in Bihar. However, EC, despite promptly writing back to each of the 10 parties to indicate availability of their representatives at 5 pm on July 2, is yet to hear from them.
EC sources said the "July 2" meeting with the multi-party opposition delegation thus stood deferred as no confirmations were received.
Sources told TOI that while the mail received from a legal counsel of the All India Congress Committee for the multi-party delegation's appointment with EC was unilateral - with no similar email received from the remaining nine parties or the AICC mail marked to them - the panel in its response sent the same day to each party - Congress, RJD, TMC, DMK, SP, NCP, JMM, CPI, CPM and CPI(ML) Liberation - welcoming their request and seeking their confirmations for a meeting at 5 pm on July 2. However, not one of the parties, Congress included, had responded to EC's mail till late Tuesday, said EC sources.
Even so, a TMC delegation met EC on Tuesday as part of its consultation with parties on all poll-related issues.
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