Bihar's Electoral Roll Face-off: Rising Tensions and Supreme Court Intervention

The Election Commission of India (ECI) reported on Thursday that no political party had submitted claims or objections regarding Bihar's draft electoral rolls, raising political tensions. Despite the lack of political complaints, 5,015 claims and objections were filed by individuals, with the commission also processing 27,517 new elector registrations.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls has stirred controversy, with the opposition alleging potential voter deletions. They have been vocal in Parliament, demanding a review of the SIR process amid fears of disenfranchisement. In response, the Supreme Court has requested the ECI to disclose data concerning 65 lakh voters excluded after the SIR revision.

As per the SIR orders, any removal from the list necessitates thorough investigation and a fair hearing by Electoral Registration Officers. Meanwhile, the ECI emphasized transparency, asserting that all relevant information regarding deleted voters has been shared with political parties. Public participation in the roll revision remains active until September 2025.