BJP leader Sanjay Jaiswal slams opposition for targeting constitutional bodies over EVMs and SIR

Former Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party President Sanjay Jaiswal accused the opposition on Wednesday of targeting constitutional institutions following electoral defeats. Addressing a press conference in Patna under the "Loktantra Bachao, Bheedtantra Hatao" campaign, Mr. Jaiswal alleged that deliberate attempts are being made to spread misinformation regarding Electronic Voting Machines, the Special Intensive Revision, and the broader electoral process to shake public trust in democracy and the Election Commission of India.

Election Results

Mr. Jaiswal pointed to Legislative Council elections, which use ballot papers and preferential voting, to highlight contradictions in party claims. Despite Congress long demanding ballot-based polls, the party won only one out of 28 seats in those elections and lost all four seats in Karnataka. Senior BJP leaders Manoj Sharma and Danish Iqbal attended the press conference, with Mr. Sharma noting that Article 324 assigns election control to the ECI to guarantee fair polls.

Electoral Rolls

Defending the Special Intensive Revision, Mr. Jaiswal stated the process follows a legal framework dating back to 1950 and has occurred eight times previously, including seven times under Congress-led governments. Last year's revision in Bihar corrected 47 lakh entries, removing duplicate, deceased, and relocated voters without any affected person raising concerns. He also alleged that Bangladeshi nationals in West Bengal obtained forged documents and Aadhaar cards in South 24 Parganas, stressing that foreign nationals lack voting rights.

Context

Electoral roll revisions and EVM reliability frequently become flashpoints between ruling and opposition parties during political disputes in India. The Election Commission of India operates as an independent constitutional body tasked with ensuring free and fair elections across the nation.