Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has voiced strong concerns regarding the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Owaisi argues that this "rushed" revision process could lead to the disenfranchisement of a significant number of eligible voters.
Owaisi's apprehension stems from the timing and the nature of the revision. He points out that the electoral rolls in Bihar have already undergone a Special Summary Revision, which addressed key issues such as rapid urbanization, migration, and the inclusion of names of deceased or ineligible individuals. According to Owaisi, the reasons cited to justify the SIR were already covered in the earlier revision. He questions the necessity of initiating another intensive revision so close to the elections.
A key point of contention is the documentation required for verification during the SIR. Voters are now required to submit documents proving not only their own birth details but also, depending on their birth year, those of one or both parents. Owaisi argues that expecting citizens, especially those from marginalized communities, to possess such extensive documentation is unrealistic and unfair. He fears that many genuine voters may be excluded due to their inability to provide the required paperwork. The exclusion of widely available documents such as Aadhaar is also a concern.
The ECI's directive specifies that the electoral roll of 2003 will be treated as probative evidence of eligibility, including presumption of citizenship, for those registered at that time. However, individuals added to the rolls after 2004, or those who have recently turned 18, must provide proof of birth and residence. This requirement has raised concerns about potential discrimination and exclusion.
The tight timelines for the SIR have also drawn criticism. The schedule includes a door-to-door verification process by booth-level officers, preparation of draft electoral rolls, and a period for filing claims and objections. Concerns have been raised about whether officials can complete these tasks accurately and efficiently within the given timeframe.
The ECI initiated the "Special Intensive Revision" of Bihar's electoral rolls on June 28, with the goal of publishing the updated voter rolls by September 30. The ECI has stated that of Bihar's 7.96 crore electors, 4.96 crore individuals whose names were registered in the 2003 voter list only need to fill out an enumeration form and attach an extract of the voter rolls. The remaining 2.93 crore voters, whose names were added after 2004 or have recently turned 18, must submit proof of birth and residence along with the form. However, the actual figure of those who need to provide fresh documents for enrolment would be closer to 4.74 crore.
The opposition INDIA bloc has also raised concerns about the SIR, suggesting that lakhs of voters may lose their voting rights. They argue that people will struggle to produce documents at such short notice. Some have even accused the ECI of implementing a National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the backdoor.
Owaisi has formally requested the ECI to address these concerns and has called for an in-person hearing for opposition parties to voice their objections. He stresses the importance of ensuring that no eligible voter is disenfranchised during this revision process.
