Tejashwi Yadav Challenges Voter List Overhaul in Bihar: Questions ECI's Process Amidst Legislative Uproar

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has voiced strong criticism against the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Identification and Revision (SIR) process for voter lists in Bihar. The timing and feasibility of the overhaul, particularly in the context of the state's large migrant population, have been called into question.

Yadav expressed concern about the requirement of 11 documents for voter registration, questioning how economically disadvantaged citizens could manage such paperwork in just 25 days. Highlighting widespread issues, he underscored the significant digital divide in Bihar and the potential disenfranchisement of rural populations.

The debate reached the Bihar Assembly, where opposition representatives, dressed in black, protested against the revisions. Yadav questioned ECI's authority and challenged the process's impartiality, emphasizing the need for transparency amid the state's outcry. The Election Commission defended the revisions, citing the necessity to maintain electoral integrity by removing ineligible voters.

(With inputs from agencies.)