Opposition mulls legal course, mass stir against SIR of electoral roll in Bihar

The RJD and Congress on Thursday indicated that Opposition parties were exploring options, including moving the court and mobilising a mass agitation against the(ECI's proposed Special Incentive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in poll-bound Bihar. The Congress said it has "lost all faith in the ECI brass" after Opposition leaders' deliberations with them on the SIR issue a day earlier. They claimed that CEC Gynesh Kumar told them that at least "20% of the Bihar voters will be out of" the rolls after the SIR.

"The Opposition leaders' meeting with the ECI brass on SIR was not a cordial one. Now, the Opposition leaders are in the process of discussing the future course. All options, including legal recourse, are being discussed," RJD MP Manoj Jha told ET.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a presser that "all options are open...we are in discussions with our INDIA bloc allies and experts". He stepped up the attack on the poll body by accusing the ECI brass of behaving like "bicholia" (middleman) of the government.