Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Monday submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha seeking a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in Bihar, alleging it has led to mass voter deletions, especially among marginalized communities.
Tagore warned that the exercise could lead to “targeted disenfranchisement” in other opposition-leaning states like Assam and West Bengal, and demanded a transparent parliamentary debate on the legitimacy and implications of the revision process.
“Over 65 lakh voters, or 8.3% of Bihar’s electorate, have been flagged for deletion,” Tagore said, adding that the highest deletion rates are concentrated in minority-dominated and opposition stronghold districts such as Gopalganj (15.10%), Purnia (12.07%), Kishanganj (11.82%), Madhubani (10.44%), and Bhagalpur (10.19%).
He alleged that the process has disproportionately affected Dalits, Muslims, urban poor, migrant workers, and slum residents, who often lack access or awareness to contest such deletions.
Tagore also pointed out the electoral significance, stating that in many of the affected constituencies, the margin of victory in previous elections was narrow, and such deletions could skew outcomes unfairly.
Citing the example of former Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, whose name was reportedly missing in the draft voter list before being found in records later, Tagore argued the process lacked both parliamentary scrutiny and public accountability, particularly when general elections are less than a year away.
In a post on X, he reiterated, “We demand a discussion on the SIR, which has resulted in the deletion of 12% of voters — primarily from INDIA alliance strongholds — in Bihar.”
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha’s agenda for the day includes Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introducing the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, and amendments to the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is also expected to move a resolution to amend the Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975.