Voter List Row: Tejashwi Says Rights Of Biharis Are Being Snatched; BJP Dismisses Concerns

Last Updated:July 07, 2025, 16:18 IST

Senior BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain dismissed the opposition’s concerns, calling the voter verification process “routine"

Yadav also said he along with Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, will do a “chakka jaam” (road blockade) as part of the INDI bloc’s strike on July 9. (Image: PTI/File)

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar before the upcoming state elections has snowballed into controversy, with the opposition referring to it as “ Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state through the backdoor."

The BJP, part of the NDA government in Bihar, has dismissed concerns about “voter suppression" as nothing more than manufactured panic by the Opposition.

Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar assembly, said genuine voters– especially the poor and minorities– may get left out in the revised voter list, and the whole process might affect the fairness of the upcoming elections. He alleged that the voter rights of people of Bihar are being “snatched."

“We met with the EC on July 5th and asked basic questions. But we still don’t have clarity. You know how Bihar’s EC works — like a post office. No one is answering," Tejashwi said at a press conference in Patna.

“Just yesterday, the EC gave out three different orders. What does that show? That even they are confused," he said.

Yadav also said he along with Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, will do a “chakka jaam" (road blockade) as part of the INDI bloc’s strike on July 9.

“On July 9, I, along with Rahul Gandhi, will do a ‘chakka jaam’ (road blockade). The way voting rights of the people of Bihar are being snatched, their other rights will be taken away soon, and hence we will protest against this," he said.

AIMIM Bihar president and MLA Akhtarul Iman demanded a stay on the process, saying poor people don’t have documents like birth certificates, especially among migrant labourers.

“Only 2% of the population has passports, and just 14% are graduates. How do you expect these people to prove their identity so suddenly — especially during the monsoon season?" he asked.

The AIMIM leader, who was in Kishangarh for the poll campaign, said floods had washed away not just homes but essential documents. “People are scared they’ll lose their right to vote — and they’re not wrong to be afraid," he added.

Nothing To Fear: BJP On Bihar Poll Voter List Revision

Senior BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain dismissed the opposition’s concerns, calling the voter verification process “routine."

“Before the election, voter verification was routine. But now, Manoj Jha and Mahua Moitra have gone to the Supreme Court; what difference does it make? It would be beneficial to implement voter verification, as only valid voters would remain eligible. There is no confusion among the voters of Bihar, but RJD and Congress try to create confusion, especially among Muslim voters. These people are scaring them into thinking their votes will be cancelled. There is nothing to fear," he said.

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Of Voter List In Bihar

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued instructions to carry out a Special Intensive Revision in Bihar to weed out ineligible names and ensure all eligible citizens are included in the electoral roll, allowing them to exercise their franchise in the polls slated later this year.

The poll panel has said it has taken additional steps in the intensive revision to ensure illegal migrants do not get enrolled in the voters’ list.

It has said nearly 87 per cent of the 7.96 crore voters in Bihar have been provided with semi-filled enumeration forms for the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls.

The forms were distributed during the first visit of the booth-level officers (BLOs) to nearly 1.5 crore households in the state. The process of collecting the filled up forms has also started separately, but its figures were not immediately available.

The Election Commission said that over 87 per cent enumeration forms — 6,86,17,932 out of the total of 7,89,69,844 (nearly 7.90 crore) electors in Bihar who are enrolled as on June 24, 2025 have been distributed.

“The remaining houses could be locked or of dead electors or of migrants or of those who may be travelling. Since, the BLO shall be visiting three times to the houses of the electors during the exercise, these figures are likely to increase further," the poll body said.

Besides, 1,55 lakh booth level agents (BLAs) appointed by various political parties are also providing active support in the SIR process.

Each BLA can submit up to 50 certified forms per day.

(with inputs from ANI, PTI)

News politics Voter List Row: Tejashwi Says Rights Of Biharis Are Being Snatched; BJP Dismisses Concerns