The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has become a major political flashpoint, with opposition parties, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, fiercely criticizing the Election Commission of India (ECI). Yadav has accused the ECI of acting like a "BJP cell" and not issuing clarifications regarding the revision process.
The ECI initiated the SIR on June 24 to conduct a door-to-door verification of approximately 8 crore voters in Bihar. The stated objective is to update and correct the electoral rolls before the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. As part of the process, voters are required to verify and sign enumeration forms with their name, address, and photograph. Voters whose names were not on the 2003 electoral rolls must provide additional documents, including parents' birth details if the parents were not listed in 2003. The last intensive revision in Bihar was conducted in 2003.
The opposition INDIA bloc, spearheaded by Tejashwi Yadav, has strongly opposed the SIR's timing and methodology. Their primary concerns include the revision being conducted exclusively in Bihar and close to the state elections, raising questions about potential political motivations. They also allege that the exercise may be aimed at disenfranchising voters unlikely to support the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Yadav has questioned the rejection of Aadhaar cards, ration cards, job cards, and MNREGA cards during verification, arguing that many people in Bihar lack birth-related documents. He criticized the ECI for not providing clarity on the matter and questioned why the Election Commissioner couldn't hold a press conference to address the confusion. He has also alleged that fake forms, signatures, and thumb impressions are being used, and that voter data is being uploaded without people's knowledge.
The ECI has defended the SIR as a lawful and constitutional exercise to strengthen the electoral process. They maintain that the revision is being conducted transparently with the participation of political parties through Booth Level Agents (BLAs). As of now, nearly 36.5% of voters have been covered in the door-to-door exercise. Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer stated that the SIR is progressing as per the ECI's order and that all measures are being taken to facilitate documentation for existing electors.
The controversy has reached the Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions challenging the ECI's decision to conduct the SIR in Bihar. Opposition parties, including Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, JMM, CPI, and CPI (ML), have jointly filed pleas in the apex court. Concerns have also been raised about a clause that allows Election Registration Officers (EROs) to refer suspected foreign nationals to the competent authority under the Citizenship Act, potentially targeting "unwanted" voters in the Seemanchal region.
The SIR has triggered widespread debate, with some fearing mass disenfranchisement, particularly among people experiencing poverty and migrants. Others argue that the opposition is politicizing a necessary exercise to hide their electoral weaknesses. The legal and electoral implications of the SIR and potential boycotts are significant, with the possibility of undermining democracy if major parties withdraw from the electoral process.