Bihar Voter List Revision Sparks Uproar Ahead of Elections
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar, just a few months before the state elections.
In response, Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized the Commission. He said it was acting like “Modi ji’s three monkeys” — refusing to see, hear, or speak the truth. He claimed that this revision is being done to remove certain voters, especially the poor, disadvantaged, and people living in flood-affected areas.
Khera also said, “This is not just about votes — it’s like stealing someone’s identity, citizenship, and existence.” He added that doing door-to-door voter checks during the monsoon is not practical in areas that often flood.
New rules for voter documents:
Born before July 1, 1987: Must show one valid document proving date or place of birth.
Born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004: Must show their own and one parent’s valid document.
Born after December 2, 2004: Must show documents of both parents and their own.
This voter list update has been strongly criticized by opposition parties. Leaders like Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), and Rajesh Ram (Congress) have joined Khera in opposing it.
They believe the process is being rushed, even though a similar revision in 2003 took almost two years. This time, they say it’s being done in just one month.
Tejashwi Yadav questioned why the same voter list used in the 2024 national elections is now being considered incomplete. He said it seems like a plan to remove the names of Dalits, tribals, minorities, and backward castes.
Congress also accused the ECI of doing similar things in Maharashtra, where they claim new voters were added unfairly to change election results. Now, they fear voter deletions in Bihar.
The Congress party has demanded that the revision be stopped, saying it hurts democracy. The INDIA alliance (a group of opposition parties) has promised to protest and raise public awareness.
With elections coming soon, this voter list controversy is likely to become a major issue in Bihar politics.
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