Is Tejashwi Yadav Really Threatening an Election 'Boycott' While Accusing ECI of Favoring BJP?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Tejashwi Yadav is considering a boycott of the elections.
- He accuses the Election Commission of irregularities favoring the BJP.
- The 'Vote Rights Yatra' aims to raise public awareness.
- Concerns about voter list discrepancies are central to the controversy.
- Political tensions are escalating as elections approach.
Patna, Aug 13 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, has once again hinted at a potential boycott of the forthcoming state elections, alleging that the Election Commission is involved in extensive irregularities.
Tejashwi revealed plans to participate in the “Vote Rights Yatra” alongside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi starting August 17, where they aim to engage with the public on this pressing issue.
“Following the yatra, we will thoroughly evaluate our participation in the Assembly elections. If the Election Commission has made all the decisions, it might lead us to abstain from the elections,” he stated.
He accused the Commission of “robbing votes” under the influence of the BJP, citing specific instances such as the case of Muzaffarpur Mayor and senior BJP figure Nirmala Devi, whose name appears on two voter lists within the same constituency, each linked to different EPIC cards and conflicting ages.
Additionally, he claimed that her two brothers-in-law are also registered with duplicate IDs.
Tejashwi pointed out that the RJD raised concerns about Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha having two EPIC numbers, prompting the Election Commission to issue him a notice.
“Notably, Sinha’s name surfaces in two districts, and to my knowledge, only the administration of one district has addressed this issue,” Yadav mentioned.
Furthermore, he asserted that the BJP’s Bihar in-charge Bhikhu Bhai Dalsania is listed on Bihar’s voter roster despite his origins in Gujarat.
“In the last 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he voted in Gujarat, removed his name from that list, and plans to vote in Patna. Post-elections, he might re-register in Gujarat,” Tejashwi alleged.
The RJD leader highlighted serious discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, claiming the BJP has been made “speechless” as more revelations surface.
He criticized the Election Commission for failing to hold a press conference regarding these issues and vowed to unveil the flaws in the SIR process.
“Previously, the BJP relied on agencies like the ED and CBI; now they are leveraging the Election Commission,” Tejashwi remarked.
Reflecting on the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, Yadav alleged that he lost one seat by a margin of 12,000 votes and asserted that his party was systematically made to lose 10 seats.
“This is merely a scheme of vote theft,” he claimed.
As the Assembly elections draw near, the controversy surrounding the voter list is shaping up to be a crucial point of contention between the ruling NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan.