The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has ignited a major political controversy, with top opposition leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi leading a vocal protest at Parliament.
Gathered under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament complex, the opposition MPs held placards with ‘SIR’ boldly written on them and chanted slogans denouncing the move. In a symbolic act of defiance, the posters were later discarded into a dustbin—marking the opposition’s categorical rejection of the revision process.
The spark behind this protest? A staggering 56 lakh names have been identified for deletion from Bihar’s electoral rolls, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). These include:
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20 lakh deceased voters
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28 lakh permanently migrated individuals
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7 lakh duplicate registrations
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1 lakh untraceable voters
The opposition claims the timing and execution of this revision process are suspicious, especially with the Bihar Assembly elections looming. They have accused both the Centre and the Election Commission of deliberately disenfranchising key voter groups—particularly the poor and marginalized.
“They intend to deprive the poor of their voting rights and let only the elite vote. They are not abiding by the Constitution,” alleged Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Rajya Sabha MPs have also filed Suspension of Business notices, demanding immediate discussion on the SIR during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi questioned the transparency of the process, stating,
“There should be transparency. All political parties should have access to the data provided by the Election Commission—so why has it not been shared?”
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi issued a stern warning to the Election Commission:
“If you think you are going to get away with it, you are mistaken. We are going to come for you.”
Gandhi further alleged that in a Karnataka constituency, ineligible voters—some aged 50 to 65—were mysteriously added, while eligible youth voters above 18 were removed.
“We have 100% proof of cheating by the Election Commission in Karnataka. If this is happening in one constituency, it is likely across many more,” he claimed.
In response to these mounting allegations, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar strongly defended the SIR process. He emphasized that the revision is essential to remove fake and ineligible voters—including deceased, migrated, and duplicated entries.
“The Constitution is the mother of Indian democracy. The SIR helps prevent fake votes and maintains electoral integrity,” Kumar stated, dismissing the opposition’s charges as “misleading.”
As political tensions escalate, the Bihar voter list revision has become a flashpoint issue, with both sides trading barbs over voter rights, transparency, and electoral fairness. With Assembly elections on the horizon, the outcome of this debate could significantly influence Bihar’s political landscape.
