Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday stated that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters` rolls would ensure accurate voter lists. He commended the exercise being conducted by the Election Commission in poll-bound Bihar, reported news agency PTI.
Addressing the media in Maharashtra`s Wardha, on the sidelines of a regional BJP meeting, CM Fadnavis mentioned that he had approached the High Court in 2012 with a plea for an intensive revision of electoral rolls.
Speaking on the Thackeray cousins reunion, CM Fadnavis downplayed the potential reunion between Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray for the upcoming Mumbai civic body polls.
“The people of Mumbai have decided to elect the mayor from the Mahayuti. Hence, whether they (the Shiv Sena-UBT and MNS) come together or fight separately or whatever, the mayor will be from the Mahayuti alliance,” he asserted.
According to PTI, the Mahayuti alliance comprises the BJP, the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to stay the publication of draft electoral rolls in Bihar and stated that it would definitively decide on pleas against the Election Commission`s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, PTI reported.
Reacting to the Supreme Court`s ruling, Fadnavis said, “We have been demanding the SIR of electoral rolls. Over the last 20 years, many voters have moved to new residential addresses, while some have relocated entirely. Some names are included at both old and new addresses, while some individuals have passed away.”
Moreover, he thanked the Election Commission for the SIR of voters` rolls in Bihar, stating that this exercise would provide a correct list of voters and ensure the smooth implementation of voters` rights.
Furthermore, Fadnavis criticised Congress leader P Chidambaram over his reported remarks suggesting that the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack could have been “homegrown.” “I am not surprised, as these people had doubted surgical strikes earlier. The problem is with their mentality which cannot be changed. Even people are questioning the integrity of such leaders,” he added.
The senior BJP leader attributed the disruption caused by the opposition in Parliament to their ulterior motive of framing a specific narrative regarding `Operation Sindoor`.
“The Opposition doesn`t want discussion on the success of Operation Sindoor and how our brave soldiers brought Pakistan to its knees. They lacked the courage to face the discussion,” he added.
He also voiced his support for RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat`s remarks on the nomenclature `Bharat`, reported news agency PTI.
Bhagwat had stated on Sunday that `Bharat` should not be translated, as it would otherwise lose its identity and the respect it holds globally. Bhagwat also emphasised that while India is `Bharat`, it should be referred to as such in all public and private discourse, PTI reported.
“There is nothing controversial about what Mohanji Bhagwat has said. Bharat is Bharat. We use Bharat and India in the Constitution. It will be more apt to call the country Bharat,” Fadnavis concluded.
(With inputs from PTI)