Voter List Rivision: A new controversy has taken root in Bihar’s politics surrounding the revision of the voter list. The decision to remove approximately 35 lakh names from the state’s voter list during a special summary revision campaign by the Election Commission has sparked a new political conflict ahead of the 2025 assembly elections. The Election Commission’s rationale behind this massive removal is to create a transparent voter list by identifying deceased, shifted, and duplicate voters.
The Epicenter of the Controversy
The main reasons for this campaign are:
- Deceased Voters: Approximately 12.5 lakh names belong to voters who are no longer alive.
- Migrant Workers: Around 17.5 lakh people have left Bihar for other states and are residing there.
- Duplicate Entries: About 550,000 names have been registered multiple times, meaning the same person is listed as a voter more than once.
- Foreign Nationals: There are also allegations that some foreign nationals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar have illegally obtained Indian documents to get their names on the voter list.
Allegations from Opposition Parties
The opposition parties, particularly the INDIA bloc, have strongly criticized this drive. They allege that it is a well-planned conspiracy to disenfranchise marginalized people, especially voters from minority and Dalit communities. The opposition claims that the Election Commission initially refused to accept identity proofs like Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, or ration cards, causing many people to face difficulties in proving their citizenship. They have also alleged that conducting this revision just before the elections is politically motivated.
Supreme Court’s Intervention and the Election Commission’s Steps
The matter has reached the Supreme Court. While the apex court did not stay the drive, it advised the Election Commission to accept documents like Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and ration cards as proof of identity. Under pressure, the Election Commission has relaxed its norms and stated that no voter’s name will be deleted from the list without proper verification and an opportunity to appeal.
Political Impact and Apprehensions
This controversy has created a kind of political instability in the state. Allegations are being made that this drive is being carried out more actively in certain areas, especially in Muslim and Dalit-dominated regions. There are also reports of harassment of ordinary people due to poorly trained booth-level officers. The removal of such a large number of voters could directly impact the election results, especially in closely contested seats. The final voter list is expected to be published by September 30th. This incident has added a new dimension to Bihar’s politics, and its impact will become clearer in the coming days.
