NEW DELHI: The smooth and peaceful conduct of Bihar assembly elections with the highest-ever turnout of voters, particularly after the first SIR of its electoral roll in over two decades, will boost the confidence of EC as it goes about Phase 2 of SIR across a dozen other states and UTs, including those due for assembly polls next year.The overwhelming participation of electors in SIR and then in Bihar elections is seen as a clear indication that the ‘vote chori’ campaign of opposition, led by Congress and amplified by Rahul Gandhi through his ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ in state, press conferences and personal attacks against CEC Gyanesh Kumar did not find resonance with the public. The assessment is reinforced by Congress’ modest six-seat tally in the polls.Even Supreme Court had refused to entertain the opposition parties and activists’ pleas to stay and quash SIR in Bihar, based on their fear that it would disenfranchise electors from weaker sections and minorities. The high participation of these very sections in Bihar polls has undermined their argument.PM Lauds EC; ‘Zero appeals’ validated rolls revision: CECPM Narendra Modi, in his victory speech on Friday, said that high voting in Bihar, particularly by the weaker sections, is a huge achievement for EC, as is the elimination of repolls that were synonymous with elections during the ‘jungle raj’ era in the state.“I congratulate EC, poll-related officers, security forces and electors for this,” said PM Modi. He also underlined that the electors of Bihar, particularly the youth, had shown that they took SIR with utmost seriousness. “For purity of democracy, every vote matters,” he said while exhorting the party apparatus at the polling station level to contribute 100% to SIR in other states/UTs.Speaking to TOI, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said: “Zero appeals against the final electoral roll of Bihar, not a single request for repoll from the 2,616 candidates or 12 recognized parties and highest polling since Bihar’s first election in 1951 show the precision and commitment with which EC and its ground machinery worked to deliver a free, fair and peaceful election. This, for EC, is the biggest validation”.Kumar was personally targeted in comments by Rahul Gandhi and AI-generated campaigns on Congress’ social media. But EC cited relevant provisions of law to validate its actions and directives. Transparency at each stage of SIR – enumeration, claims and objections, and their disposal – with daily bulletins and fact-checks ensured a direct line with the electors, who willingly participated in SIR and ensured that all deadlines were met.
