Bihar Voter List Revision: Over 35 Lakh Names Face Deletion As Opposition Alleges 'Backdoor NRC'
Bihar voter list revision may delete over 35 lakh names. The ECI stated that so far 4.52% of names are flagged for removal from the rolls. Opposition parties, like RJD and AIMIM, allege a deliberate disenfranchisement.
As Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll enters its final stages, the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) latest figures indicate that more than 35 lakh names may be deleted from the voter list—further fuelling the fierce ongoing political row ahead of the upcoming elections in the state.
The ECI on Monday confirmed that, with just 11 days remaining for the deadline to submit filled enumeration forms (EFs), a total of 6,60,67,208 forms—covering 83.66% of Bihar’s 7,89,69,844 electors—had already been collected. This progress follows two rounds of door-to-door verification by booth-level officers (BLOs).
According to the State Election Office, preliminary checks found that 1.59% of voters were deceased, 2.2% had permanently relocated, and 0.73% had been listed in more than one location. Altogether, 4.52% of names are flagged for removal from the rolls.
The commission noted that 88.18% of electors have either submitted their forms, confirmed their continued residence, or were verified as deceased or relocated. Around 11.82% of voters are yet to file their forms, although many have expressed intent to submit them soon with supporting documents.
The ECI has encouraged electors who have temporarily moved out of Bihar to use online services such as the ECINet App or platforms like WhatsApp to submit their EFs. The draft roll will be published on 1 August, and names not linked to submitted forms by 25 July will be excluded.
Tejashwi Yadav Raises Alarm Over Voter Deletions
The SIR process has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav questioned the motive behind the large-scale deletions. He warned, “If even 1% of voters are removed from every Assembly segment, it would mean nearly 3,200 voters per constituency. Now that the figure has crossed 5%, the opposition fears a direct impact on the election results.”
The revision process is underway as the Supreme Court recently directed the ECI to consider valid identity documents such as Aadhaar, ration cards, and voter ID cards to verify voter status. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for 28 July.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi launched a scathing attack on the ECI, accusing it of overstepping its constitutional remit.
Owaisi Calls Bihar Voter List Revision 'NRC Through Backdoor'
“Our party was the first to say that SIR is NRC through the back door,” said Owaisi, speaking to news agency ANI. He questioned, “Who gave the ECI the power to determine whether someone is a citizen or not?” Owaisi also alleged, “There are elections in Bihar in November. Why do they want to make the people of Seemanchal powerless?”
Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, echoed similar concerns and criticised the ECI for disregarding the Constitution and Supreme Court guidelines. “The Election Commission has already become ‘Dhritarashtra’. They are neither following the Supreme Court’s advice nor respecting the Constitution,” he told ANI.
While opposition voices grew louder, BJP MP Yogender Chandolia defended the ECI’s move, asserting that foreign nationals should be removed from electoral rolls. “If the people of Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh are our voters, then what is the point of giving the right to vote to the local residents? Such votes must be deleted,” he told ANI.
Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai, however, criticised the ECI’s handling of the revision, calling it hasty. “The Bihar elections are approaching, and the Election Commission has made a decision in haste. This is causing chaos, and people are quite worried and troubled,” he said.
Bihar Voter List Revision: Final Roll to Be Released on 30 September
The fifth phase of the SIR, beginning 1 August, will allow the public to file claims and objections until 1 September. During this time, electoral officers will scrutinise requests and grievances. Importantly, no deletions will occur without a proper inquiry and hearing. The final voter list will be released on 30 September.
According to the Press Information Bureau, copies of the draft roll will be made available to recognised political parties and also uploaded to the ECI website. Those who miss the July 25 deadline may still apply for inclusion using Form 6 during the claims and objections window.
Top Headlines
