Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Tuesday, 29 September accused the Opposition of engaging in “selective criticism” over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, arguing that opposition parties have conspicuously avoided questioning election outcomes in states they themselves govern.

The Core Accusation

Paswan charged that the Opposition’s campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the SIR process is driven by political convenience rather than genuine democratic concern. “The way the opposition is continuously trying to spread confusion regarding the Election Commission and the SIR, I feel that several states have effectively countered this confusion. Be it the elections in Bengal or the elections here in Bihar,” he said.

He pointedly noted that if the Opposition is questioning mandates in BJP- or NDA-ruled states, it must apply the same scrutiny to results in states such as Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala, where opposition governments are in power. “When results go in your favour—in states where the outcome favours you—questions are not raised there. This selective criticism by the opposition is not appropriate,” Paswan said.

EVM Parallel and ECI Clarification

The Union Minister drew a parallel with past controversies over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), arguing that opposition parties had accepted EVM results when their own candidates won but alleged tampering whenever NDA candidates prevailed. “The EVMs were considered fine in states where their MPs or MLAs won. But where candidates from our alliance won, people would claim that we had tampered with the EVMs,” he said.

This comes amid a broader political flashpoint over the SIR process. Paswan, along with other NDA allies, had earlier sought clarification from the ECI over reports of internal differences within the poll panel. On the preceding Saturday, the ECI issued a press release following an internal meeting, clarifying the context in which a letter had been written by ECI functionaries to the Cabinet Secretary.

A Challenge to the Opposition

Paswan went further, questioning the Opposition’s continued participation in the electoral process if its dissatisfaction with the system is as fundamental as its statements suggest. “If the Opposition is still not satisfied with the ECI’s response, it is free to ask more questions. But continuing to spread confusion even after receiving answers is an attempt to set a specific narrative,” he said.

He argued that the Opposition’s approach would ultimately cost it public trust. “The problem is that unless the opposition engages in introspection instead of just trading accusations, they won’t win the trust of the public or the election,” Paswan stated.

LJP-RV Eyes 403 Seats in Uttar Pradesh

Separately, Paswan addressed his party’s plans for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, signalling that the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is prepared to contest all 403 seats if an NDA alliance does not materialise. “Our preparations for the elections are fully complete. We will certainly contest the election in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

He cited the turnout at the party’s ‘Yuva Yuddh’ event in Prayagraj as evidence of growing youth support. “The way a massive number of young people attended the ‘Yuva Yuddh’ event in Prayagraj leads me to believe that as of today, our party and organisation are gaining strong support in Uttar Pradesh, just like in Bihar,” he added.

With the Uttar Pradesh elections on the horizon and the SIR row showing no signs of abating, Paswan’s remarks signal that the NDA will press this ‘double standard’ argument as a key counter-narrative heading into the poll season.