Ranchi, September 8: BJP State President Aditya Sahu has launched a strong attack on the Jharkhand government over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging political interference and attempts to influence the process.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office, Sahu alleged that the JMM-Congress coalition government was trying to influence the SIR process and pursuing a policy of appeasement. He claimed that several irregularities had surfaced in voter lists in Sahibganj, Rajmahal and Pakur, particularly regarding the ages and other details of voters.
Sahu demanded 100 per cent verification of electoral rolls in sensitive areas of Santhal Pargana. He alleged that government officials were being used as “polling agents” of the JMM and Congress instead of working as impartial public servants.
He also raised questions over alleged political interference in the electoral process. According to Sahu, meetings involving JMM-Congress leaders and administrative officials were being held to influence the verification process and protect the names of alleged illegal immigrants from being removed from the voter list.
Sahu cited an alleged case from the Barharwa area of Pakur, where an FIR was reportedly registered against four allegedly ineligible persons and a Common Service Centre operator over the alleged use of fake residential documents to get names included in the electoral roll.
He also pointed to alleged discrepancies in the electoral rolls of Rajmahal and Boria constituencies in Sahibganj district. He claimed that in some booths, the number of voters had increased significantly compared with earlier electoral rolls and that cases involving unusual age differences between family members had also surfaced.
The BJP state president said that if the government's intentions were clear, it should have no objection to an investigation into every complaint related to the voter list. He warned that the BJP would not tolerate such alleged irregularities and would expose them. If necessary, he said, the party would approach the court.
Sahu also urged government officials to work impartially and not under political pressure, warning that officials violating rules could face legal action.
BJP State Vice-President Rakesh Prasad also demanded that officials ensure a clean and error-free electoral roll. He questioned the decision to allow offline issuance of certificates instead of online processing, alleging that such measures could facilitate the retention of ineligible names in the voter list.
Prasad further questioned how alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were obtaining voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards and PAN cards in the region. He alleged that fake documents were being prepared with the help of Pragya Kendra operators and demanded a high-level investigation into the matter.
State Media In-charge Yogendra Pratap Singh and State Spokesperson Prakash Singh were also present at the press conference.
