Don’t skip SIR, or you’ll miss polls: Shinde to party workers

Kolhapur: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Monday appealed to the Shiv Sena workers to keenly follow the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The SIR exercise, which is currently going on across the state, will ensure the eligible voters are registered to vote for elections. Shiv Sena has designated the local party workers to ensure all the eligible voters are registered by the election staffers.Shinde, while addressing the party workers in Satara, said, "You all should keenly observe the SIR exercise. Keep in mind those who neglect the SIR will miss the election. It is a crucial exercise. Open a party office in every village and ensure one person from each family becomes a party worker."Before Shinde, Satara guardian minister Shambhuraj Desai addressed the gathering and stated that despite numbers Shiv Sena failed to get its president for Satara Zilla Parishad.Replying to this, Shinde said, "Some leaders felt sad about it (ZP president polls). But don't mind who has become the president of Satara ZP, the real president in the minds of the people is from Shiv Sena."Shinde's Satara visit was marked by a rift within the party. Party's Koregaon MLA Mahesh Shinde skipped the meeting stating that he did not receive the invitation.Desai, however, said that there is no need to invite those who feel that they belong to the party. Mahesh Shinde's wife contested on BJP ticket and got elected as Satara ZP president.