Tejashwi Yadav Announces Akrosh March, Mahagathbandhan to Protest Across State

Bihar SIR Row: Tejashwi Yadav Announces Akrosh March, Mahagathbandhan to Protest Across State

The political battle over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is intensifying in Bihar, with RJD leader and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav announcing a series of protests by the Mahagathbandhan. The opposition alliance has decided to take its campaign against the voter-list revision process to the streets across the state.

According to the programme announced by Tejashwi Yadav, an Akrosh March will be organised at block headquarters across Bihar on October 7, followed by demonstrations at district headquarters and a march towards Lok Bhavan in Patna on October 8.

The protests are centred on the opposition's allegations regarding the SIR exercise and its demand for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Tejashwi Yadav Announces Statewide Protest

Tejashwi Yadav announced the protest programme after a meeting with leaders of the Mahagathbandhan in Patna.

The opposition parties have planned the protests as part of a larger campaign that they describe as an effort to protect democracy and raise concerns over the electoral-roll revision process.

On October 7, the alliance plans to hold demonstrations at all block headquarters. On October 8, protests will move to the district level, while leaders, MLAs, MLCs and other functionaries are scheduled to participate in a march towards Lok Bhavan in Patna under Tejashwi Yadav's leadership.

The programme gives the Bihar opposition a coordinated statewide political activity at a time when the SIR issue remains a major point of confrontation between opposition parties and the Election Commission.

Opposition Raises Questions Over SIR

The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has become a major political issue in Bihar.

The opposition has alleged that the exercise could result in genuine voters being removed from electoral rolls. Tejashwi Yadav has claimed that eligible voters were deleted during the process and has accused the Election Commission of failing to adequately address opposition complaints.

These are opposition allegations, rather than established findings. The Election Commission has maintained that the SIR exercise is intended to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls by identifying entries involving deceased, duplicate, shifted or untraceable voters.

The political disagreement has therefore developed around both the process of electoral-roll revision and the safeguards available to voters whose names may be affected.

Demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Resignation

A central demand of the Mahagathbandhan's campaign is the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Tejashwi Yadav has repeatedly criticised the functioning of the Election Commission over the SIR exercise and has demanded Kumar's removal. He has also alleged that the electoral process was being manipulated in favour of the BJP and its allies.

The Election Commission has rejected such political allegations. In a separate clarification on the Form 6 issue, the poll panel said that Form 6 itself had not been modified, while an additional declaration was introduced as part of the SIR documentation framework.

The competing claims have made the SIR process a significant political flashpoint between the opposition and the Election Commission.

Seven-Party Mahagathbandhan Joins Campaign

The protest programme is not limited to the RJD.

According to reports, leaders from the seven-party Grand Alliance participated in the meeting where the protest schedule was finalised. Representatives included leaders from Congress, VIP, CPI, CPI(ML), CPI(M) and other alliance partners.

The participation of multiple opposition parties gives the campaign a broader political character. Rather than being presented as an RJD-only protest, the programme is being organised jointly by alliance partners.

The alliance has also discussed submitting a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu after October 15, outlining its concerns over the SIR process and the functioning of the Election Commission.

Bihar Becomes Centre of SIR Political Battle

Bihar has particular significance in the SIR debate because the revision exercise began in the state before being extended to other parts of the country. The opposition has used this history to make Bihar a major centre of its campaign against the process.

Tejashwi Yadav has framed the protests around the protection of voting rights and democratic participation. The RJD leader has also claimed that the opposition had raised concerns with the Election Commission on multiple occasions.

The Election Commission, on the other hand, has maintained that the purpose of the revision is to ensure that electoral rolls remain accurate and that eligible citizens are properly represented.

What Happens on October 7 and 8?

The immediate focus will now be on the Mahagathbandhan's planned protests.

On October 7, the Akrosh March is scheduled to take place at block headquarters across Bihar. The following day, opposition leaders are expected to organise demonstrations at district headquarters, while leaders in Patna will march towards Lok Bhavan.

The protests could keep the SIR issue at the centre of Bihar's political debate in the coming days.

For Tejashwi Yadav and the Mahagathbandhan, the campaign provides an opportunity to put electoral-roll concerns before voters. For the Election Commission, the controversy highlights the continuing political scrutiny surrounding the revision exercise.

With the next round of protests scheduled for October 7 and 8, Bihar is set for another significant political confrontation over the electoral-roll revision process.