Amidst anticipation for the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar, controversies have emerged, centered around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Concerns have been raised regarding potential irregularities, including the presence of deceased individuals and the absence of living citizens on the voter list. In a recent development, Tejashwi Yadav, the CM candidate of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and son of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, claimed his name was missing from the Election Commission’s draft voter list, despite his participation in the electoral roll revision. Janata Dal (United) responded, accusing Tejashwi of misleading the public. Tejashwi asserted in a press conference that his name was not listed, questioning how he could contest the upcoming elections. He further expressed that even with his Elector’s Photo Identification Card (EPIC) number, his information was not found in the system. However, the Patna district administration promptly clarified that Yadav’s name was registered, but his polling station and serial number had been altered. Tejashwi questioned the extent of EPIC number changes and alleged a conspiracy to remove people’s names from the voter list. JDU’s chief spokesperson, Neeraj Kumar, labeled Tejashwi a ‘political fraud’. The Election Commission refuted these claims, declaring them ‘false and factually incorrect,’ confirming Tejashwi’s presence in the draft electoral roll. The evolving situation adds tension to the already charged political environment in Bihar, especially as elections approach. The draft electoral roll went live with a limited number of applicants providing the necessary documentation. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Electoral Roll, a unique voter list verification process, is underway in Bihar. Objections regarding discrepancies can be filed from August 1st to September 1st, 2025.
