A controversy has erupted in Bihar regarding the voter list revision (SIR), with the opposition staging protests in Parliament. Amidst the political turmoil, the Election Commission has posed three pointed questions to the opposition. The commission is now directly addressing the concerns raised by the opposition regarding the voter list revision process.
Following the release of the final data for the first phase of SIR in Bihar, the state has 72.4 million voters. The commission reported the removal of 6.5 million names, including those of deceased, displaced, and foreign voters. In response to the opposition’s protests, the Election Commission has put forth three key questions.
**Election Commission’s Questions to the Opposition:**
1. Should the names of deceased individuals be removed from the voter lists?
2. Should any voter be allowed to vote in two different places?
3. Should the names of foreign nationals be removed from the voter lists?
With the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, the voter list revision has sparked significant controversy, with the opposition alleging it is a form of vote suppression. Chief Election Commissioner, Gynesh Kumar, on July 24, questioned the opposition’s stance on the matter, asking if the Election Commission should allow the ‘murder of democracy’.
The Chief Election Commissioner also addressed the removal of deceased voters from the Bihar voter list, questioning whether the commission should permit deceased voters, those who have left the state, and fraudulent voters to cast their ballots. The opposition was asked if removing the names of deceased voters from the list was incorrect. Furthermore, he inquired if foreign voters should be allowed to vote.
He also highlighted that a transparently prepared voter list is the foundation for fair elections and a strong democracy. He urged the opposition to consider these questions seriously, transcending all political ideologies.
**Opposition’s Concerns over SIR:**
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has strongly criticized SIR, raising the issue in the Bihar assembly and asserting that no individual in Bihar should have their name removed from the voter list. The voter list revision has become a nationwide issue, with the opposition continuing to protest against it during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.
