Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, has once again raised the possibility of boycotting the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. This threat stems from concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. Yadav has alleged irregularities in the process, claiming that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is acting as a political tool for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The SIR is a process undertaken by the ECI to update and purify electoral rolls before an election. It involves activities like adding new voters, deleting names of deceased or migrated voters, and correcting errors in the existing rolls. While the ECI maintains that the SIR is a routine exercise to ensure a clean and accurate voter list, opposition parties in Bihar have raised serious concerns about the manner in which it is being conducted. They allege that the SIR is being used to deliberately disenfranchise certain sections of voters, particularly those belonging to marginalized communities.

Yadav has been particularly vocal in his criticism of the deletion of a large number of names from the voter list. He claims that around 5.5 million people have been declared as "not present" at their registered addresses. He questioned the fate of these voters and alleged that the ruling party is avoiding a meaningful discussion on the issue. Yadav also criticized the timing of the SIR, questioning why it was being conducted so close to the elections. He argued that the ECI should have undertaken this exercise much earlier. Moreover, he raised concerns about the difficulties faced by economically disadvantaged citizens in procuring the 11 documents required for voter registration. He also pointed out that migrant workers living outside the state were being left out of the process.

The opposition's protest over the SIR has disrupted proceedings in both houses of Parliament. The government has maintained that it cannot answer on behalf of the poll body, leading to further uproar.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar responded to the criticism by questioning whether the ECI should allow dead voters, individuals with duplicate Election Photo Identity Cards (EPICs), or foreigners on the voter list. He emphasized that a sacrosanct voter list is the foundation of a successful democracy. Kumar said that allowing ineligible people to vote would be against the Constitution.

The BJP has reacted sharply to Tejashwi Yadav's threat of a poll boycott, dismissing it as a sign of "nervousness" and an attempt to deflect from an impending defeat. The party claims that Yadav's opposition to the SIR has failed to gain public support, with over 98% of voter data already included in the process. The BJP also accused Yadav of attacking public opinion with his boycott call.

The controversy surrounding the SIR comes at a time when political temperatures in Bihar are already high. The state is gearing up for assembly elections in October-November 2025. The RJD, along with its alliance partners, is hoping to unseat the NDA government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

In addition to the SIR row, the issue of caste census has also been a significant factor in Bihar's political landscape. The Bihar government released the findings of its caste-based survey in 2023, revealing that a significant portion of the state's population belongs to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). This has led to renewed demands for proportional representation and increased reservations for these communities.

Tejashwi Yadav's threat to boycott the upcoming elections is a serious matter that could have significant implications for Bihar's political future. It remains to be seen whether the ECI will address the concerns raised by the opposition parties and take steps to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process. The coming weeks are crucial, and the decisions made by the ECI and the political parties will determine the course of democracy in Bihar.