Opposition parties are vehemently protesting the Election Commission's (EC) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, calling for an immediate halt to the process, labeling it an "exercise of exclusion". The opposition INDIA bloc has accused the EC of "institutional arrogance" and demands a rollback of the SIR.
The primary concern of the opposition is that the SIR, intended to revise and update the voter list, is instead leading to mass disenfranchisement of eligible voters. They allege that the stringent documentation requirements and the speed at which the revision is being carried out will disproportionately affect marginalized communities and those lacking the necessary paperwork. Some suggest the exercise aims to deliberately exclude voters who are likely to support opposition parties, thereby benefiting the ruling party.
Several opposition leaders have voiced their concerns. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the SIR has become a process of establishing citizenship, questioning the EC's authority to do so. He referred to a 1995 Supreme Court judgment, emphasizing that taking away someone's citizenship requires adherence to detailed legal procedures. Other opposition members point to the significant increase in the number of potential deletions from the voter list since the SIR began, raising doubts about the accuracy and fairness of the process. One opposition leader questioned the claim that 2.2 million deaths occurred in the six months between the summary revision in January 2025 and the July 2025 SIR.
In response to the uproar, the Election Commission has clarified that the draft voter list, scheduled for publication on August 1, is not final. The EC stated that a full month, from August 1 to September 1, will be available for citizens to file claims and objections, ensuring any wrongful inclusions or exclusions are corrected. The final list is expected to be published on September 30. The EC has questioned the motives behind the controversy, emphasizing that the process is still ongoing and urging political parties to participate constructively by directing their booth-level agents to submit claims and objections. The EC maintains that the SIR aims to ensure full participation of all electors and political parties, and that special efforts are being made to include all eligible voters.
The EC has also addressed concerns about the deletion of voters who have shifted or are untraceable. They clarified that while booth-level officers identified approximately 3.6 million such electors, and an additional seven lakh voters registered at multiple locations, genuine electors can still be added back to the electoral rolls during the claims and objection period.
Despite the EC's assurances, the opposition remains skeptical. They argue that the EC has not adequately consulted with political parties and that the data provided by the EC is incomplete, hindering their ability to verify the information. Some opposition leaders have symbolically rejected the SIR by tearing up posters and staging protests in Parliament. They are demanding a rollback of the SIR and a thorough discussion on the issue in both houses of Parliament.
The controversy surrounding the SIR in Bihar highlights the critical importance of maintaining an accurate and inclusive electoral roll. While the EC insists that the revision is a routine exercise to ensure electoral accuracy, the opposition views it with suspicion, alleging voter suppression and targeted deletion of vote banks. The coming weeks, with the claims and objections period, will be crucial in determining whether the SIR ultimately strengthens or undermines the democratic process in Bihar.
