Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Monday raised serious concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted in Bihar, claiming that poor and marginalised voters risk losing their right to vote due to stringent documentation requirements.
Addressing a press conference in Patna, Yadav said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has failed to provide clear answers regarding the process, despite a delegation from the opposition meeting the poll panel on July 5.
“People of Bihar largely possess Aadhaar, MGNREGA, and ration cards—not the 11 documents now demanded by the ECI. Those who don’t have these documents are at risk of being removed from the voter list,” Yadav stated.
He accused the Bihar Election Commission of functioning as a “post office” with no real authority, saying it has not responded to opposition queries or clarified the basis of the document requirements.
Yadav also criticised the EC for issuing what he called “contradictory directives” within a single day, adding to confusion among voters.
“On July 6, three separate directions were issued. This shows the EC itself is confused. Our alliance is deeply worried about this ambiguity,” he said.
The controversy over the SIR has escalated to the Supreme Court, which will hear petitions challenging the EC’s directive on July 10. The petitions were filed by:
- RJD MP Manoj Jha
- The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)
- Activist Yogendra Yadav
- Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra
- Former Bihar MLA Mujahid Alam
These petitions argue that the June 24 ECI directive, which requires proof of citizenship for voter verification, could disenfranchise large numbers of voters, particularly rural, poor, Muslim, and Dalit communities.
The petitioners also criticised the exclusion of widely held documents like Aadhaar and ration cards, warning that the new rules shift the burden of proof onto citizens without due process.
In response to the controversy, the Election Commission on July 6 maintained that the SIR is progressing smoothly, with enumeration forms already distributed across much of Bihar.
“The initial phase of the Special Intensive Revision is nearly complete, and forms have been made available to all electors present,” the EC stated.
As Bihar heads into a crucial election period, the opposition has warned that the ongoing voter verification exercise—if not handled with transparency and fairness—could undermine the democratic process in the state.