Patna: Grand Alliance (GA) partners staged ‘Akrosh marches’ at all 534 block headquarters across the state on Wednesday, protesting against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and opposing what they described as “vote theft” through the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and other states.In Patna, amid heavy police deployment, GA supporters marched from near the RJD office on Veerchand Patel Path towards Income Tax roundabout on Nehru Path, carrying party flags and banners. The protest disrupted traffic at the busy intersection.The protest marches were also organised by RJD, Congress, CPI(ML), CPM, CPI, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and India Inclusive Party (IIP) at block headquarters across the state. The parties had instructed their block and district units to organise the marches on Wednesday, followed by dharnas at district headquarters on Thursday.“The ‘Akrosh marches’ of the GA partners have been held not only in Patna, but also at all the 534 block headquarters across the state. Their pictures have been put on social media platforms, too,” state RJD spokesperson Ejaj Ahmad told reporters here.“Our main demands include resignation of the CEC, annulment of the SIR and cancellation of the state govts formed after their respective assembly elections held on the basis of electoral rolls prepared through the SIR. The decision regarding the execution of the SIR was taken unilaterally by the CEC. The names of over 13 crore voters deleted from the electoral rolls should be restored and included,” he said.
