PATNA: Opposition Mahagathbandhan constituents on Wednesday staged protests at block headquarters across Bihar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The protesters also sought the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
RJD, Congress, VIP and Left party leaders and workers took part in the demonstrations, raising slogans and burning effigies of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as part of the “Gyanesh Hatao, Loktantra Bachao” campaign.
The protesters alleged that the SIR exercise had led to the deletion of bona fide voters from the electoral rolls and accused the BJP-led government and the Election Commission of undermining democracy.
The protests followed a call by RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to hold demonstrations and burn effigies at all 534 block headquarters across the state.
Wednesday’s block-level protests were part of the two-day ‘Aakrosh March’ announced by the Mahagathbandhan in the state.
The RJD national working president alleged that the SIR was undertaken in Bihar at the behest of the BJP and the Centre. He vowed to continue the Opposition’s campaign against the electoral roll revision exercise.
The INDIA bloc has announced further protests, with alliance leaders scheduled to stage sit-ins at district headquarters on Thursday. In Patna, Opposition parties will also march towards Lok Bhavan under Tejashwi’s leadership.
