'Not One Eligible Voter Will Be Aggrieved': CEC On Electoral Roll Review In Bihar Amid Opposition Attack

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Last Updated:June 30, 2025, 06:30 IST

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's assurance came as parties like the RJD, AIMIM, TMC and Congress questioned the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar

Amid the opposition’s strong criticism of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday called the apprehension unfounded.

Kumar’s assurance came even as parties like the RJD, AIMIM, TMC and Congress questioned the special intensive revision (SIR).

“We stand with the eligible voters…not one eligible voter will be aggrieved. One lakh volunteers have been assigned to help voters in Bihar with documentation," Kumar told News18.

While the TMC and AIMIM alleged that this was an attempt for a “backdoor entry" of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the RJD questioned the timing.

“Bihar elections will be announced in two months…why is the EC (Election Commission) rushing into this exercise? Have stakeholders been consulted? Is this an attempt to disenfranchise some voters?" RJD MP Manoj Jha asked during a conversation with News18.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: “There is a lot of scam in this. This is dangerous, I am requesting all political parties to oppose this."

WHY SIR NOW?

Responding to questions raised by the opposition parties, top EC officials said the exercise is meant to put to rest all doubt raised after Maharashtra and Lok Sabha elections.

“When all opposition parties questioned the Maharashtra electoral rolls, it became imperative to remove all doubt for the next elections in Bihar. As soon as the Lok Sabha polls were over, the duplicate EPIC issue was raised by the TMC…fake voter issue was raised by the Congress after the Maharashtra polls…they said voters were added to the rolls…we want to ensure no such doubt is raised after the Bihar elections," officials said.

They added: “Before every election, revision of electoral roll is mandatory as per section 21(2)(a) of the RP Act, 1950, and Rule 25 of the Registration of Elector Rules, 1961."

Officials further said the SIR is meant to ensure faith of people in the democratic process and institution is not eroded.

“An attempt is being made to create a perception that elections are being stolen. This is dangerous for democracy. We have to ensure people’s faith in elections and democracy," they said.

EC ACTION SANCTIONED BY CONSTITUTION

Strongly rejecting the opposition’s criticism, the EC said it will strictly implement Article 326 of the Constitution, which is the answer to all those questioning the SIR.

“A single answer to all those questioning SIR is Article 326. The EC will strictly implement Article 326 during SIR. ⁠Political parties and other persons are also supposed to follow Article 326 in letter and spirit. The EC has made its stand clear, the SIR is in line with Article 326. ⁠Anyone opposing it is also opposing Article 326 and should, therefore, clear their stand," the officials said.

Article 326 deals with qualifications that any resident must have in order to be allowed to vote in india. It makes 18 years of age and citizenship compulsory. It states:

“The elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage; that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than eighteen years of age on such date as may be fixed in that behalf by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature and is not otherwise disqualified under this Constitution or any law made by the appropriate Legislature on the ground of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such election."

UP TO 10% VOTERS COULD BE INELIGIBLE

Sources in the EC said they suspect that close to 10 per cent of people included in Bihar’s voter list may not be ordinary residents of that constituency or the state.

This is based on the ground reality of migration from Bihar to other states. “The law does not allow you to continue to vote in a constituency while you reside in another state. Some voters have dual voter cards in their Bihar address and also their place of work in Delhi, Mumbai or other parts of the country. They have to be weeded out as the law does not allow this," officials said, adding that 0.5 per cent of the voters in the current list may be “doubtful".

Arunima

Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ...Read More

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