The controversy surrounding voter lists in Bihar politics continues to simmer. Opposition parties are consistently criticizing the Election Commission, using it as a means to target the BJP. RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan alleged that despite eight days passing since the deadline for claims and corrections, the Election Commission is not providing adequate responses to the information requested by the RJD and the India coalition parties. Instead, the commission is repeatedly sending the same information in letters to the party.
Meanwhile, prominent social worker Rahul Yadav, along with numerous associates and hundreds of youths, joined the JDU on Friday. Umesh Singh Kushwaha, the state president, granted them primary membership and wished them a bright future.
**Here’s a look at the major news related to Bihar politics:**
**1 – Election Commission Misleading: RJD**
RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan accused the Election Commission of misleading on Friday. Gagan stated that despite repeated requests over several days, the Election Commission has not provided the category-wise list of removed voters in the released format. He further stated that the Election Commission is misleading the public by claiming that claims or objections from political parties are negligible.
The RJD spokesperson questioned why the Election Commission, which claims to have removed the names of 22,34,501 deceased individuals from the voter list, is reluctant to provide their names, including their assembly constituencies and polling station numbers. Similarly, why are the names of transferred, duplicate, and absent voters not being provided category-wise? He questioned on what basis the political parties’ BLOs will file claims or objections. The RJD spokesperson stated that the way Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, exposed the irregularities of the Election Commission, a conspiracy is underway in Bihar to commit an even bigger scam in the name of the SIR.
**2 – Grand Temple of Maa Janaki to be Built in Punauradham: JDU**
Umesh Singh Kushwaha, the state president of Bihar JDU, expressed deep satisfaction on Friday over the groundbreaking and foundation stone laying of a grand plan for the Maa Sita temple and overall development in Sitamarhi’s Punauradham. The state president mentioned that the construction of a grand and divine Sita temple at the birthplace of Maa Janaki is a unique opportunity for pride not only for Bihar but for the entire country. In the coming years, Punauradham will emerge as a new focal point of faith and culture in India.
The state president informed that to realize this historical and cultural heritage-related project, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had approved Rs 882.87 crore in a meeting of the state council of ministers. The construction of the temple will give a new direction and identity to religious tourism and will also create employment opportunities for thousands of people.
**3 – Hundreds of Sisters Tie Rakhi to Congress State President**
A grand Rakhi festival was organized on Friday at the state Congress headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, in the capital. On this occasion, sisters from various regions tied Rakhis to state Congress president Rajesh Ram and celebrated the festival with joy and enthusiasm. MLA Pratima Kumari Das, Neetu Singh, and Mahila Congress President Sarwat Jahan Fatma started the Rakhi festival by tying Rakhi to Rajesh Ram. Thousands of Rakhis received by post from across the state were tied to state President Rajesh Ram’s wrist by the present sisters.
On this occasion, along with state president Rajesh Ram’s wife Rekha Das, hundreds of sisters were present. After tying the Rakhi, the sisters wished the state Congress president a long life, a healthy life, and success in public service. Rajesh Ram also offered auspicious blessings and affection to all the sisters in the form of gifts.
**4 – Rahul, Son of Former MP Vijay Yadav, Joins JDU**
Rahul Yadav, a prominent social worker from Danapur in the capital, along with his many associates and hundreds of youths, joined the JDU on Friday. On this occasion, State President Umesh Singh Kushwaha granted him primary membership of the JDU and wished him a bright future. The event was attended by Deputy Leader of the Ruling Party in the Legislative Council and Treasurer Lalan Kumar Sarraf, Chief Whip Sanjay Kumar Singh alias Gandhi Ji, Party National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, State General Secretary cum Headquarters Incharge Sthapana Chandan Kumar Singh, and several other leaders and workers.
In his address, Umesh Singh Kushwaha said that due to the youth-friendly thinking of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, today the youth across the state are inclined towards JDU. In the same sequence, Rahul Yadav, a youth social worker from Danapur, has joined the party along with his many associates and hundreds of youths. The state president said that Rahul Yadav comes from a political family that has a strong hold and influence in Danapur and the surrounding areas.
**5 – Free Travel on August 9th and 10th**
The Bihar government has given a big gift to mothers and sisters on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Inspired by the Chief Minister, free bus travel facility will be given to women and students in all buses of Bihar State Road Transport Corporation on August 9th and 10th on the holy occasion of Raksha Bandhan. On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, free travel facility is being provided by the Bihar government to women/students in all buses operated by Bihar State Road Transport Corporation. Women and students will not have to pay any fee to travel in buses. This facility will be applicable from 6 am on August 9th to late evening on August 10th.
Under this initiative, women of all ages, whether students or working, can travel in Pink, Ordinary, and Deluxe buses of the corporation without a ticket. These buses are being operated from six regional offices Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Purnia on various routes.
**6 – Conspiracy to Weaken Democracy: Santosh Suman**
Dr. Santosh Suman, the National President of HAM (S.) and Minister of State for Minor Water Resources, said that Rahul Gandhi’s continuous attacks on the Election Commission are an attempt to create an atmosphere of distrust in the country. By attacking a constitutional institution like the Election Commission, an attempt is being made to weaken democracy. Suman said that Rahul Gandhi’s ‘atom bomb’ exploded and fizzled out. The Election Commission, rejecting his absurd, irrelevant, and baseless allegations, has instructed him to provide a list of fake voters through an affidavit. The Karnataka Election Commission has clearly stated that if they cannot provide the affidavit, they should apologize to the country for their baseless allegations.
He said that Rahul Gandhi, who blames EVMs after every electoral defeat, is now trying to question the entire democratic system of the country by targeting the Election Commission. He wants to create an atmosphere of distrust in the country. Suman said that there is a need to foil this deep conspiracy to weaken the country’s democracy. Rahul Gandhi should tell whether his party won 99 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections with fake votes? If the Election Commission is in cahoots with the BJP, then how are there Congress governments in many states of the country? Rahul Gandhi, by blaming the Election Commission or EVMs for his failures, is trying to deny the existence of democracy in the country. The country will never accept this.
