Mahadangal: Voter List Verification in Bihar Sparks Political Debate Ahead of Elections – Is It Cleanup or Targeting?

In Bihar, the Election Commission had launched a major voter list verification drive just three months ahead of the upcoming elections. The process, which began on June 25 and continued until July 26, was the first such exercise in the state since 2003—marking a gap of 22 years. After this, the final updated voter list was scheduled to be released. The Election Commission had invoked Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to justify the move, stating that it aimed to ensure transparency and eliminate bogus voters. The ruling NDA had supported this initiative, calling it a necessary step for fair elections. However, opposition parties had raised serious concerns. Critics argued that poor and marginalized voters might have been unfairly targeted, especially since the documents being demanded were not accessible to all. Questions had also emerged over whether the exercise was a covert attempt to push NRC-like policies. With similar controversies previously seen in Maharashtra and West Bengal, the credibility of the Election Commission had come under scrutiny. In Mahadangal, the questions raised were: Were genuine voters affected? Was this a cleanup or a cover-up? And how did this shape the electoral landscape in Bihar and beyond?