UP SIR Deadline Extended: Political Storm Brews as Opposition Questions ECI, BJP Retaliates

• Election Commission extended Uttar Pradesh's Special Summary Revision (SIR) deadline by one week, shifting draft voter list publication to January 6 and final list to March 6.
• Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress questioned the ECI's intentions, alleging potential manipulation despite SP previously demanding a three-month extension.
• SP President Akhilesh Yadav posted on X, expressing apprehension and raising doubts about voter numbers increasing under 'human error'.
• Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak (BJP) rejected opposition allegations, stating it's a habit for SP and Congress to question the Election Commission.
• Senior journalist Gyanendra Shukla supported the ECI's decision, calling the extension a good move to properly manage the system in a large state.

Why It Matters: UP's SIR deadline extension sparks political row, with opposition questioning ECI and BJP defending the move.