Patna: The CPI(ML) on Sunday boycotted the National Voters’ Day called by the Election Commission (EC) and instead organised a separate Voter Rights Protection Day at all district headquarters across the state. The EC had asked political parties to organise programmes in line with its call for observing National Voters’ Day.In Patna, CPI(ML) functionaries assembled near Buddha Smriti Park on Fraser Road, carrying banners, placards and party flags. They alleged that the EC’s programme was a “sham”, claiming that the names of voters were deleted from the electoral rolls during the special intensive revision (SIR) drive. Party lawmakers and functionaries also addressed the gathering.They claimed that in Bihar alone, the names of around 70 lakh voters were deleted from the electoral rolls in the name of SIR just ahead of the Assembly polls held last year. They further alleged that a similar exercise is being carried out in states going to the polls this year, where voters’ names are also being deleted.The party leaders said that the victims of the SIR drive were mainly the poor, dalits, minorities and migrant workers, and termed the EC’s National Voters’ Day observance as a “show-off”.
