SIR, panchayat polls: What UP BJP’s core group discussed in high-level meeting

Sources said the focus of CM Adityanath and other party leaders was on ensuring proper participation of party cadre in the last phase of the SIR exercise by filing maximum objections.

The deadline for the SIR was recently extended to December 26 in UP.

“Untraceable voters in the SIR exercise will be our main focus now. While the Opposition is raising unnecessary objections, it would be our task to ensure that objections are raised against those falsely included and get the genuine ones included in the list,” said a BJP leader who attended the meeting

“Party leaders, including Chief Minister Adityanath ji, are worried about missing voters in the current exercise and how to reach out to most of them,” the party leader said.

Recently, Adityanath had said that names of 3 crore voters are missing in the draft roll and urged cadres to focus on their respective booths.

The meeting also discussed the party’s plan to actively participate in the second phase of the SIR exercise, when the verification process will begin.

“We are sure that the outcome of this meeting would ensure strengthening of the organization at the booth level,” said Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya after the meeting.

Earlier in the day, he said, “Infiltrators will be identified, duplicate entries, and those who are no longer alive, their names will be identified from the voters’ list during the SIR. The era of loot of votes has ended. The Election Commission has started the exercise, and BJP workers are going to make it successful,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said, “The list that is being prepared is fair and transparent and is necessary for democracy. All of us are working for the same. The Opposition is merely trying to find ways to justify their foreseen loss in Uttar Pradesh, like in Bihar.”

Party leaders said that after a “long time”, a “significant party meeting” for planning was addressed in such a manner.