"EC has become Dhritarashtra": Pappu Yadav accuses poll body of "not respecting" constitution amid voter list revision in Bihar

New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, on Monday criticised the Election Commission of India, calling it "Dhritrashtra" over their decision to revise electoral rolls in Bihar, and accused them of "not respecting" the constitution or following Supreme Court advice.
Pappu Yadav's remark comes after the Supreme Court allowed the EC to continue Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls while advising them to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity.
Speaking with ANI, Pappu Yadav said, "The Election Commission has already become 'Dhritarashtra'. They are neither following the Supreme Court's advice nor respecting the Constitution. The Supreme Court advised them and clearly stated that under no circumstances can you decide who is Indian and who is not. Work under the Constitution and include Aadhaar card along with other documents."
Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogender Chandolia supported the SC's move, and said that names of foreign nationals like those from Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh must be removed.
He also said that such individuals should be sent back to their countries and added that this exercise should be carried out in other states as well.
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Yogender Chandolia said, "Since the Election Commission has started this work in Bihar, it will continue this in other states as well. If the people of Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh are our voters, then what is the point of giving the right to vote to the local residents? Such votes must be deleted, and not only that, these people should be sent back to wherever they are from."
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi in SC did not stay the SIR process but asked the ECI to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity during the SIR of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar.
Bihar will have Assembly polls later in the year. ECI sources said that after a proper enquiry is conducted from 1 Aug to 30 Aug, if found true, such names shall not be included in the final list to be published on 30 September 2025.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) said that till Saturday evening, 80.11 per cent of electors in Bihar submitted their forms, adding that the commission is moving ahead to complete the collection of Enumeration Forms (EFs) before the stipulated time of July 25. (ANI)