"BJP engaged in destroying democracy...": MP Awadhesh Prasad on Tejashwi Yadav's 'name missing' from voters list claim

New Delhi [India], August 3 (ANI): Amid the allegation by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav that his name is not in the voter list, Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad on Sunday hit out at the BJP-led government, saying they are engaged in destroying democracy in the country.
While speaking to ANI in national capital, Prasad said, "The BJP is engaged in destroying democracy in this country... It is the right to vote that is the strength of the poor... The BJP wants to eliminate this strength and honour. This has already begun..."
He later added that in Bihar, the entire opposition in the Lok Sabha is demanding action against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
"In Bihar, the entire opposition in the Lok Sabha is demanding action against the ongoing SIR, stating that it is vote theft and must be stopped, but the government is not understanding this. Parliament is in session tomorrow as well. Let's see what happens," he told ANI.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Sambit Patra lashed out at Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, alleging that Yadav had two EPIC numbers and two Voter IDs, and called Yadav's accusation a "conspiracy to defame India."
On Saturday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the draft electoral rolls for Bihar, alleging his own EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) number has been "changed."
"If my own EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) number could be changed, then how many people's EPIC numbers have been changed? These are the questions we are posing to the Election Commission. This is a conspiracy to cut people's names from the voter list...," he said.
He accused the Election Commission of going back on its promises of transparency and fairness.
The Election Commission of India said that not a single claim or objection has been filed by any political party in the first 24 hours of the publication of the draft electoral rolls in Bihar.
"From August 1 (3 PM) till August 2 (3 PM), all political parties put together have filed 'Zero' claims and objections for the addition of the names of eligible electors and deletion of the names of ineligible electors," said the poll panel in a press note.
The ECI in a press note said, "As per SIR order, after the completion of the Enumeration Phase from 24 June to 25 July 2025, the draft Electoral Rolls have been published for Bihar on 1 August 2025."
The commission enabled electors to verify their names through the official link using their EPIC numbers. They were also allowed to file claims and objections for inclusion or deletion of names through the same portal. (ANI)