In a sharp retort to the Samajwadi Party's criticism of the ongoing Statewide Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Friday stated that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav should approach the Election Commission of India, not the state government, if he seeks data related to the voter enumeration exercise.
Opposition Nervous About Booth Rigging Curb, Says Maurya
Maurya, addressing the media in Prayagraj, asserted that the SP leadership was "agitated and nervous" about the SIR campaign, leading to contradictory statements from its camp. He launched a direct attack, claiming, "The political future of the SP and the Saifai family is bleak as they can no longer rig booths and win elections."
The deputy chief minister broadened his accusation, alleging that a coalition of rival parties was actively misleading the public. "All rival camps including Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee are misleading the public on the SIR. At the same time, they have deployed their own workers in this campaign," Maurya claimed.
He contended that the opposition's objective was to discourage BJP-supporting voters from participating in the form-filling process. In contrast, he said, the BJP was appealing to every eligible voter to complete the SIR enumeration.
Defends BLOs, Links Drive to 2027 Elections
On the concerns regarding excessive pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) due to the intensive drive, Maurya cited the Supreme Court, stating it has mandated providing additional help and manpower if the workload increases. To illustrate his point, he shared his personal experience from Thursday.
"I visited my booth at Jwala Devi Inter College on Thursday, where I filled and submitted my own enumeration form and interacted with the BLO. He did not appear stressed and was happily performing his duty," the deputy CM recounted.
Stressing the critical long-term importance of the exercise, Maurya urged BJP workers to avoid complacency. While feedback from urban areas was positive, he insisted on sustained effort, declaring that "the 2027 elections will be fought on this voter list." Senior leaders including Vivek Mishra, Dr Shailesh Pandey, and Pawan Srivastava were present during these discussions.
Takes Swipe at Rahul Gandhi's Putin Remark, Bihar Polls
Responding to a separate query about Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remark on Russian President Vladimir Putin not meeting Indian opposition figures during his visit, Maurya sidestepped a direct comment. He stated the issue concerned the LoP, the Government of India, and the Ministry of External Affairs.
He emphasized the "strong and genuine friendship" between India and Russia, which he said has "further deepened" under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Maurya then took a political jab at Gandhi, linking it to electoral performance.
"He had taken a dip in some pond during the Bihar elections, and after that he got only six MLAs," Maurya said. He added that after such setbacks in Bihar, leaders of the INDIA alliance, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, were agitated and making "nonsensical statements."
The deputy chief minister's comments underscore the escalating political rhetoric in Uttar Pradesh surrounding the voter list revision, framing it as a pivotal battleground for future electoral contests.
