In a scathing criticism, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is functioning under the direction of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), undermining the credibility of the electoral process in Bihar. Expressing deep dissatisfaction with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, Yadav said that holding elections under such circumstances has become “meaningless.”
“If the BJP wants to run the government using fraudulent voter lists, then just give them an extension. What’s the point of elections if the process itself is dishonest?” Yadav said in a statement to IANS.
When asked if the Opposition is considering a boycott of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, Yadav stated that the option is on the table and will be thoroughly discussed with the Grand Alliance allies. “We will consult with our alliance partners and the people before making a final decision,” he added.
SIR Sparks Political Uproar
The controversy surrounding the SIR process intensified in Parliament, with the Opposition staging a symbolic “black protest” over the government’s refusal to allow a debate. According to parliamentary sources, the government argued that the ECI was solely responsible for the revision process and that the executive could not respond on its behalf.
The same discontent echoed in the Bihar Assembly, where RJD and other opposition legislators demanded a full-scale debate on the fairness and transparency of the SIR exercise.
Allegations of Voter List Manipulation
Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticized the ECI for failing to address Opposition concerns, alleging that the revision process is deleting legitimate voters while artificially inflating revision statistics for presentation in court.
“Earlier, voters used to choose the government. Now, it seems the government is choosing its voters,” Yadav remarked, denouncing the SIR as a “fraudulent drive.”
56 Lakh Names Removed: EC Defends Process
Amid rising political heat, the Election Commission announced that 56 lakh names have been removed from the draft voters’ list, scheduled for release on August 1. The breakdown of removals includes:
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20 lakh deceased individuals
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28 lakh permanent migrants
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7 lakh multiple entries
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1 lakh untraceable voters
Despite the backlash, the ECI maintains that the SIR is a constitutional duty and asserts that the process has been executed within jurisdictional boundaries. It has also reassured the public that there will be ample time for corrections and new inclusions before the final list is published.
Public Satisfaction Claim Under Scrutiny
The poll body further claimed that voter satisfaction with the revision exercise is high, despite the sweeping deletions. However, Yadav and Opposition leaders remain unconvinced, arguing that the process lacks transparency and could severely affect electoral fairness.
As political tensions mount, all eyes are now on the Grand Alliance’s next move and whether a boycott of the Bihar assembly elections becomes a reality—potentially triggering a major political standoff in the state.
