Concerns about Bihar SIR are nothing but fake narrative: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party president Ajit Pawar on Friday (September 19, 2025) termed the concerns being raised about the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar as ‘fake narrative’.

He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has raised various concerns and ‘vote theft’ allegations, can raise these issues with the Election Commission (EC) and if the ECI does not listen, he can move the Supreme Court.

“Even with respect to addition of voters in Rajura (an Assembly constituency in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur), other places, the Opposition is only trying to enrage people instead of following the procedures. The idea is simple — spread doubts in the minds of people. This is nothing but a political ploy,” he told The Hindu.

In a sit-down interview, he spoke on several matters, including the NCP’s expansion in different regions of Maharashtra, criticism of Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, the social tension due to Maratha reservation and OBC agitation. His own party leadership has expressed doubts about the recent government order on the Maratha reservation, expressing fear that it will adversely impact the OBC reservation.

Maratha-OBC tussle

The NCP, traditionally known as a Maratha stronghold party, has stayed away from any public posturing regarding the Maratha reservation agitations. When asked about the clash between OBC fears and the Maratha community’s aspirations, he said, “The OBCs were told that they will not face any issues over reservation when the government passed the order for the implementation of the Hyderabad Gazetteer. Now, as per the gazetteer records, which are the records from the Nizam’s times, there are Kunbis who are Marathas involved in farming. As per the fresh government order, if these Kunbis have any blood relations now, they should get Kunbi certificates.”

Ajit Pawar’s own party leader and Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has gone to court against this government order. In an indirect dig, Mr. Pawar said, “But now, because of the statements given by a few people, some OBCs have started feeling if they are facing any injustice. The Marathas feel if they have been given anything at all. So it has caused confusion among the communities.”

He further said, “We are only saying that we are checking the records. There is the Shinde committee as well, which has been looking into it. Our stand is very clear. We will not let any community face injustice. We will not take from one and give it to someone else.”

On Mr. Bhujpal expressing fear that the government order will adversely impact the current OBC reservation, Mr. Pawar said it was Mr. Bhujbal’s personal opinion, adding that everyone had the right to go to the court of law in a democracy.

Special Public Security Bill

When asked about his government facing the criticism of silencing democratic voices of dissent and protest through the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, he slammed the Congress central leadership in Delhi. He asked why the State Congress leaders had not raised any objections to the Bill in the State Assembly, where it was passed.

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“Once it was cleared in the Lower House (Vidhan Sabha), the Congress leaders started getting calls from Delhi, asking them why they had not opposed the Bill on the floor of the House, how was it cleared. So, the Council members (MLCs) were told to oppose the Bill. When the issue was raised in the House, and CM gave a reply. Everyone listened to the reply quietly. Then the Bill was put for voting in the House. How is it that everyone voted for it thereafter?”

Hitting out at the central leadership of the Congress, he said, “Delhi Congress has a different thing to say. They are in the Opposition now. They can’t speak of the Constitution being under threat. It has been 15 months since the Lok Sabha elections. What is the new fake narrative they want to speak about? They want to keep raking up one thing or another as a part of a fake narrative.”