Bihar Voter Roll Revision Sparks Political Storm; 35.6 Lakh Names Under Scrutiny, Opposition Targets ECI

Patna: With Bihar gearing up for its Assembly elections, the political temperature in the state has risen sharply. Beyond campaign promises and voter sentiment, a new controversy has emerged—this time targeting the Election Commission of India (ECI).

A recent statement by the ECI has triggered intense debate in political circles, with the Opposition accusing the poll body of bias and bowing to government pressure. Leaders from the INDIA bloc have claimed that democratic institutions across the country are being undermined, and the neutrality of the Election Commission is now under the scanner.

What Triggered the Controversy?

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar recently stated that during Bihar’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, only 6.85% of voters are yet to submit their enumeration forms. Kumar thanked eligible voters for participating in what he termed a “much-needed cleaning of the electoral rolls.”

However, controversy erupted when reports surfaced that during the revision process, booth-level officers identified several foreign nationals—reportedly from Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh—registered as voters in Bihar. According to the ECI, these names were flagged during document verification and subsequently removed from the rolls.

The Numbers Behind the Cleanup

The ECI’s data reveals significant discrepancies:

• 4.5 million (45 lakh) voters were not found at their registered addresses.
• Among them:
  • 1.25 million (12.5 lakh) are deceased.
  • 1.75 million (17.5 lakh) have permanently migrated.
  • 0.55 million (5.5 lakh) have duplicate entries in multiple constituencies.

As a result, the Commission has decided to share details of 35.6 lakh ‘missing voters’ with political parties for cross-verification—a step aimed at transparency. Parties can raise objections or submit documents to prevent genuine voters from being wrongly deleted.

Political Reactions: Allegations and Counter-Allegations

The Opposition, however, is not convinced. Rahul Gandhi accused the ECI of deliberately targeting poor voters, farmers, and Congress supporters, alleging that their names are being removed from electoral rolls.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee went further, alleging a larger pattern of voter roll manipulation by the BJP across states:

“They deleted 35.6 lakh voters in Bihar. The same was done in Maharashtra and Delhi. Now they want to repeat it in Bengal. We will not allow this.”

Banerjee vowed to resist any such moves ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections:

“We may be injured, but we are united and will fight back.”

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav echoed these concerns, claiming the INDIA bloc’s doubts about the revision process are now being proven correct. He accused the ECI of ignoring even the Supreme Court’s directions, stating:

“If the poll body cannot remain neutral, democracy is at risk.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader Tom Vadakkan defended the Commission, arguing that the deletions target only ineligible voters, such as illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh—allegedly a core vote bank for Opposition parties.

Opposition Raises Alarm Over ECI’s Public Statements

Opposition leaders have also questioned why the ECI issued statements on the revision process while legal challenges are pending. AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal wrote on X:

“The revelations from the SIR exercise completely expose the BJP-controlled ECI. Preliminary estimates suggest that 35 lakh voters are being disenfranchised in a hurried process.”

ECI’s Defense: Appeal Rights and Due Process

The ECI has clarified that affected voters have the right to appeal, first to the District Collector and then to the Chief Electoral Officer, by submitting valid proof of citizenship and eligibility. However, the Commission has not disclosed the exact number of foreign nationals identified in Bihar so far.

Bigger Picture: Administrative Exercise or Political Tool?

What started as an administrative process to clean up electoral rolls has now snowballed into a major political controversy. While the ECI insists this exercise is essential for ensuring free and fair elections, the Opposition calls it “targeted deletion” and “voter suppression.”

The discovery that 35.6 lakh voters were not found at their registered addresses is a serious matter. But more critical is the perception of impartiality—the cornerstone of India’s democratic process.

With the Bihar Assembly elections approaching, the ECI faces a credibility test:

• Will the process remain transparent and fair?
• Or will political pressure tilt the scales?

For voters, the message is clear: complete your documentation and verify your names in the rolls. If your name is missing, file claims or objections immediately. After all, democracy survives only when every vote counts—accurately and without bias.