A major political storm is brewing in Bihar, not because of loud campaign speeches or rallies, but over something as basic and powerful as your name on the voter list. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls to verify voters and clean up the lists. However, the way this process is being conducted has sparked confusion, public protests, and a legal battle in the Supreme Court. With state elections approaching, the controversy has turned into a wider debate on fairness and the right to vote.
What Happened?
On June 24, the ECI issued a notice asking for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. This means that electoral officers were asked to carefully update the voter list to remove fake names and add any missing eligible voters. But the way this is being done has raised eyebrows.
The notice asked Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to collect documents from voters before July 26, 2025. These documents are meant to prove that voters are real people living in the area. Sounds reasonable, right? But here’s where it gets tricky.
Why the Uproar?
Political parties, especially the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Trinamool Congress (TMC), have moved the Supreme Court against this revision drive. They say the process is being carried out unfairly and may discriminate against minorities, Dalits, and the poor—groups that often struggle to provide documents on time.
RJD MP Manoj Jha, in particular, has accused the ECI of targeting voters in Muslim-dominated areas under the pretext of verification. According to him, this is not just a technical exercise, but a politically motivated move that could silently erase many legitimate voters from the list.
What Are the Rules?
According to the SIR guidelines issued on June 24, voters must show proof like Aadhaar cards, passports, utility bills, or government-issued IDs to remain on the list. However, the timing and sudden enforcement of this drive have caused panic. Many fear they might be left out if they are not home, lack documents, or simply don’t know about the update.
Interestingly, the ECI has claimed that there has been no change in instructions and that this is just a routine update. But opposition parties argue that this is not how things were done in previous years, especially in the middle of a state's election year.
What Does the Law Say?
By law, electoral roll revisions should be transparent, fair, and inclusive. But critics argue that asking BLOs to collect documents door-to-door, especially in specific areas, can easily lead to targeted exclusions.
Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, pointed out that unlike previous revisions, this one is being carried out without proper public awareness, and without giving people enough time to submit their documents.
The fear is that this may lead to voter suppression, where legitimate voters may be unable to cast their votes because their names were quietly removed from the list.
What the Supreme Court Will Decide
The case is now in the Supreme Court, where RJD and TMC MPs have demanded that the SIR process in Bihar be stopped until the court can review whether it violates constitutional rights.
They’ve also pointed to previous orders from the court that said no voter should be removed from the list without proper verification and chance to respond.
Why This Matters
Elections are the backbone of democracy, and the voter list is its foundation. If people lose their right to vote without clear reason, it threatens the very idea of free and fair elections. This controversy is not just about Bihar. It is about the trust people have in the system—and whether every citizen will get an equal chance to have their say in who runs the country.
As the state moves closer to its next election, all eyes will be on how the ECI handles the voter list. Will it ensure fairness, or will it be seen as a tool of political pressure?
One thing is certain: Bihar’s voters deserve answers—and respect.
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