Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Jul 23: A sweeping voter list revision in Bihar has ignited a fierce political storm, with opposition leaders from the Mahagathbandhan bloc accusing the Election Commission and ruling governments of disenfranchising the poor and marginalised just months ahead of the state elections. The controversy centres around the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which, according to the Election Commission, has led to the deletion of nearly 52 lakh names from the electoral rolls.

On Wednesday, Mahagathbandhan MLAs intensified their protests, alleging that the voter list clean-up is a deliberate attempt to tamper with the democratic process and suppress voices from disadvantaged communities. RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan slammed the revision exercise, calling it a direct assault on democracy. “Names of poor, oppressed, and marginalised community voters are being removed. The government seems rattled by recent survey results and is now trying to strip away the voting rights of the very people who brought it to power,” he said.

CPI(M) MLA Ajay Kumar questioned the timing of the SIR drive, suggesting it was politically motivated. “This should have been done through regular procedures. But with elections looming, the sudden urgency raises serious doubts. This looks like a calculated move to hijack Bihar’s elections under the cover of legality,” he remarked.

Congress MLA Shakeel Ahmad Khan didn’t mince words either, saying, “This shameless government—both at the Centre and in Bihar—lacks any sense of dignity or conscience.”

RJD’s Bhai Virendra and Alok Mehta joined the chorus of criticism, with Virendra saying, “We are in black today as a symbol of protest to save democracy.” Mehta added, “The government remains silent as the very votes that brought them to power are being erased. The Chief Minister hasn’t said a word.”

In response, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha defended the Election Commission’s work, citing the need to remove ineligible voters. “You’ve seen reports—should votes be cast in the name of the deceased? Or should someone be allowed to vote from two places? This clean-up is necessary and legitimate,” he stated.

According to the Election Commission’s official statement, the 52 lakh deletions include 18 lakh deceased voters, 26 lakh who permanently shifted to other constituencies, and 7 lakh enrolled in multiple locations. Another 11,484 names were removed because the individuals could not be located at their listed addresses.

The Commission has announced that the draft electoral rolls will be published on August 1, incorporating changes from enumeration forms received until July 25. Voters will then have one full month to file objections or request corrections. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will process all feedback to finalise the updated rolls ahead of the election season.

The opposition, however, remains unconvinced, warning that the scale and timing of the revisions could erode public trust in the electoral process. As Bihar gears up for high-stakes polls, the battle over the voter list may become a defining political flashpoint.