A Political Storm in Bihar Before Elections: Voter List Revision Sparks Constitutional Concerns

Source: Paytm Web Blog

Patna, Bihar – 12 July 2025: Ahead of the crucial Bihar Assembly elections, a significant political storm has erupted over the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls, initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI). While the exercise is being conducted with the stated goal of ensuring an accurate and inclusive voter list, it has drawn intense criticism from opposition parties, raising fears of potential disenfranchisement of 2 to 3 crore voters.

The Five-Phase Voter Roll Revision Process

As per the Election Commission, the voter roll revision is being conducted in five phases:

• Phase 1 (June 25 to July 3): Enumeration forms are being distributed to nearly 7.90 crore registered voters across Bihar by 78,000 Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Each BLO is expected to submit 50 certified forms daily.

• Phase 2 (Until July 25): Voters are required to fill and submit the enumeration forms. Around 4 lakh volunteers are assisting BLOs in reaching voters and helping them with documentation.

• Phase 3 (Until August 1): Physical forms will be submitted to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), alongside digital submissions via an online portal. The draft electoral roll will be published on August 1. Forms not received by July 25 will not be included in this draft.

• Phase 4 (August 1 to September 1): Citizens can file claims and objections. New voter entries can be applied for using Form 6, and BLOs can submit 10 forms per day. All objections and deletions will undergo due inquiry and fair hearings.

• Phase 5 (September 30): The Final Electoral Roll will be published. This final list will be the official voter base for the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections.

Documentation Requirements Raise Alarms

A major point of contention is the documentation requirement. According to ECI, those whose names existed in the 2003 electoral roll only need to provide the enumeration form and roll extract. However, those not listed in 2003 must submit proof of birth or place of birth, choosing from 11 acceptable documents.

For some categories, birth certificates of both parents may also be required, a condition termed by critics as "unreasonable and exclusionary," especially in rural and flood-prone regions of Bihar where recordkeeping is historically poor.

Opposition Parties Sound the Alarm

A joint delegation of leaders from 10 opposition parties, including Congress, RJD, CPI, CPM, CPI-ML Liberation, DMK, NCP, SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), JMM, and AIMIM, raised serious constitutional concerns with the Election Commission, warning that the current process could disenfranchise millions of marginalized voters.

Senior Congress leader and constitutional expert Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi stated:

“The last voter list revision on this scale was in 2003. Since then, multiple elections have taken place without such an overhaul. Why now, right before a key election?”

Singhvi warned that disenfranchisement or wrongful inclusion undermines the basic structure of the Constitution, and emphasized that even one wrongful deletion or addition can tilt the electoral field unfairly.

Bihar’s Ground Realities

Singhvi, along with other leaders like Manoj Jha (RJD) and Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), highlighted the structural challenges:

• Lack of birth certificates among SCs, STs, minorities, flood-affected and migrant populations
• Limited digital access and weak administrative infrastructure
• Seasonal migration among Bihar’s working-class youth
• Flood-prone areas that are cut off for nearly half the year

Owaisi also referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Lal Babu Hussein case, asserting that no registered voter can be removed from the electoral roll without due notice.

Citizenship Test or Voter Purge?

CPI-ML leader Dipankar Bhattacharya termed the process a "citizenship test", likening it to a “vote lockdown” comparable to demonetization (note bandi). He questioned whether demanding parental birth certificates from the poor was ethical or practical.

“How can laborers, displaced villagers, or minorities—without suitcases full of documents—satisfy these demands in 2 months?”

The requirement to verify voter identity beyond Aadhaar and ration cards, which had been accepted for years, is seen by many as an attempt to alter the voter base in Bihar.

Election Commission Responds

Despite mounting pressure, the ECI defended its actions. In a press statement, the Commission claimed that:

• The process is being carried out in a structured and transparent manner.
• Opposition representatives were briefed in detail.
• Free digital and hard copies of draft rolls will be provided to recognized political parties.
• Stakeholders were invited with or without prior appointments to ensure inclusive consultation.

However, Singhvi criticized the limited participation, noting only two representatives per party were invited, which restricted democratic dialogue between the Commission and political stakeholders.

Conclusion: More Than Just an Election

The 2025 Bihar elections have become more than just a regional political contest — they are shaping up to be a test of India’s democratic and constitutional integrity. If millions of voters—especially from backward, minority, or disaster-affected regions—are excluded, the legitimacy of not just the election but the entire democratic framework could come under question.

As one political leader put it:

“If the voters are missing from the list, this election will no longer belong to the people—it will belong to the system.”

Key Stats:

• 7.90 crore voters targeted in the revision.
• 78,000 BLOs involved in distribution.
• 4 lakh volunteers assisting with the process.
• 5-phase timeline ending with final roll on September 30.
• Alleged risk of disenfranchising 2–3 crore voters, primarily among the poor and marginalized.

This unfolding controversy could set a precedent for future electoral processes and remains under close national and constitutional scrutiny.