Yogi’s comments on voter lists brings SIR back into spotlight

It may not be appropriate to say that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has added his voice to that of the Opposition’s against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. His complaint about the alleged deletion of 1.27 crore Hindu names from the voters’ list in his state is quite distinct. The Bharatiya Janata Party (NJP) prides itself on being disciplined; under the stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, it was almost inconceivable till recently for an incumbent BJP Chief Minister to say anything at variance with the party’s stated stand. And we have here a Chief Minister from a major state almost endorsing the allegations made by all Opposition leaders. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has sarcastically pointed out that now both are in the same boat. It is indisputable that Yogi’s assertion has hugely embarrassed the saffron party. He claimed that the number of Muslim voters increased by 1.65 per cent in the state, even though the names of 1.27 crore Hindus have been excluded from the voters’ list. After his complaint, the BJP has reportedly reached out to the poll panel. Countering the SP chief’s taunt, Yogi said, “Ask Akhilesh Yadav to demand the rollback of SIR now. He will not do so because the number of Muslim voters has increased by 1.65 per cent in UP after SIR. And I have spoken about the situation of Hindu voters.”

Whatever spin BJP leaders may try to give to Yogi’s stand, they cannot dilute the import of his remarks. The important thing here is not that the ECI’s SIR has been brought under a cloud of suspicion, but that it has been done by a leader who is saffron in every possible sense of the word. This pulls the rug from under the feet of the BJP high command over the issue of the ECI’s credibility. This development also underlines the sour relationship between Delhi and Lucknow. It has been an open secret in the corridors of power that Yogi is not the favourite of the Modi-Shah duo; this seems to be coming to light in public view. This will have consequences not just for the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh a few months down the line but also for the next general elections in 2029.

The Chief Minister’s latest remarks may well be an indication that he is no longer willing to remain within the political straitjacket imposed by the party’s central leadership.

Whether this is a calculated attempt to assert his political autonomy or a reflection of genuine differences over the conduct of the SIR, it cannot be dismissed as an isolated episode. The BJP’s central leadership faces a delicate predicament. Any attempt to rein in Yogi could deepen the perception that the party is uncomfortable with dissent within its own ranks, while allowing him a free hand could embolden other regional leaders to assert themselves. More importantly, the discord could expose fissures in the party’s carefully cultivated image of organisational discipline and ideological cohesion. The party cannot allow the differences to persist. After all, a party that projects itself as a formidable electoral machine cannot afford to have its most politically consequential state become an arena for a power struggle between its central and regional leaderships.

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The Hans India