Bihar’s political landscape is currently marked by allegations and counter-allegations concerning the upcoming 2025 Assembly elections. The focus of the debate centers on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, with accusations of discrepancies. These include reports of deceased individuals listed as voters and the exclusion of eligible citizens. Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD’s CM candidate, has brought forth a claim that his name is missing from the draft voter list.
At a press conference in Patna, Tejashwi Yadav revealed that he had completed the enumeration form during the special revision process, yet his name was absent from the roll. He questioned how he could participate in the elections. He also stated that even after entering his EPIC number, no information related to him was found within the system.
The Patna district administration promptly responded to Yadav’s claims, asserting that his name is indeed included in the voter list, although his polling station and serial number had been altered. Responding to the changes, Yadav questioned the scope of these alterations and suggested a potential conspiracy to manipulate the voter list. JDU’s chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar criticized Tejashwi, labeling him a ‘political fraud’ and accusing him of deceiving the public.
The Election Commission (ECI) refuted Yadav’s assertions, declaring them ‘false and factually incorrect.’ The ECI clarified that his name is listed in the draft electoral roll. This controversy has added tension to Bihar’s political climate in the lead-up to the elections. The SIR process, with a period for objections from August 1st to September 1st, is intended to guarantee an accurate and transparent voter list.