INDIA bloc leaders in Bihar slam ECI over revision list, calls it a mockery of democracy and Constitution

The Opposition INDIA bloc’s leaders from Bihar on Friday (June 27, 2025) registered their strong objection to the Election Commission (EC) holding a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls ahead of the Assembly election in the State. The leaders termed it a mockery of democracy and the Constitution.

Also Read | Special Intensive Revision of Bihar electoral rolls akin to NRC: CPI(M) to Election Commission

All the leaders made the statement during a joint press conference at the official residence of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.

“Seeing the [impending] defeat of Nitish Kumar-led BJP and NDA, it seems there is a conspiracy to remove the names of the poor, exploited, deprived, backward, extremely backward, Dalits, tribals and minorities from the voters’ list,” Mr. Yadav claimed.

Floods and documents

“Lalu ji always says that the rule of votes means the rule of poor people. I must say that 73% of the people in Bihar live in flood-affected areas and at such a time, how will people show their documents? They will first protect their lives and property, not the documents,” he further said.

Mr. Yadav alleged that “anti-constitution and anti-democracy” activities are being carried out in Bihar and a conspiracy is being hatched to snatch the rights of the poor, exploited and deprived sections to vote in the upcoming election.

“The Election Commission wants to conduct a deep revision of 8 crore voters in Bihar within 25 days, whereas the work of deep revision done 22 years ago took two years. Why was the revision not done after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,” Mr. Yadav asked.

“The Modi government should tell [the public] when they conducted the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 using the same voters’ list, it was valid and why this list not being recognised now. If the government is honest in this matter, then it should declare the 2024 Lok Sabha elections illegal. No party was taken into confidence for such a task,” he added.

Accompanied by other leaders of the INDIA bloc, he asserted that the revision work should be stopped with immediate effect.

Mr. Yadav explained that only 2.8% of the children born between 2001 and 2025 have birth certificates available.

State Congress president Rajesh Kumar said that like the Maharashtra election, an attempt is being made to influence the Bihar election through the Election Commission. He alleged that an attempt is being made under the pressure of the Union government to reduce the number of voters in Bihar and such actions will be strongly opposed.

Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera, who was also present in the press conference, added that whenever the NDA government faces a crisis, it goes to the Election Commission.

“A letter was written on the activities of the Election Commission and Kharge ji has also raised questions on the EC in this matter, but no answer has been given so far. Whenever questions are raised on the Election Commission, BJP comes forward to answer,” Mr. Khera said.

Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya asked if the EC had such an exercise in mind then why did the poll body not discuss it during the meeting with all the parties in New Delhi.

“It is the work of the Election Commission to register the name of the voter. Before going to the election, the voter will have to face the questions of the Election Commission and will have to prove how they became a voter. For this, documents will also have to be submitted whereas it is the government’s job to give birth certificates to everyone. Why did the government not do this work?” Mr. Bhattacharya asked.

CPI leader Rambabu Kumar and CPI (M) leader Arun Kumar claimed that such activities are being carried out with the intention of committing electoral fraud at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.