As Bihar gears up for the 2025 Assembly elections, fresh controversies have emerged, focusing on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Concerns have been raised regarding discrepancies, including the inclusion of deceased individuals and the omission of living citizens. In a recent development, Tejashwi Yadav, the CM candidate for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and son of party leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, claimed his name was missing from the Election Commission’s draft voter list. He stated he had completed the enumeration form during the SIR process. He questioned how he would participate in the upcoming elections. Janata Dal (United) responded by accusing Tejashwi of misrepresenting the situation. Addressing a press conference, Tejashwi asserted that his name was absent from the electoral roll, despite having submitted the enumeration form. He pointed out that his information was not found in the system, even after entering his EPIC number (Elector’s Photo Identification Card). The Patna district administration countered, clarifying that Tejashwi Yadav’s name is registered but his polling station and serial number have been altered. Tejashwi responded by questioning how many others’ EPIC numbers might have been changed, suggesting a potential conspiracy. JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar labeled Tejashwi a ‘political fraud,’ accusing him of misleading the public. The Election Commission (ECI) refuted Tejashwi’s claims, declaring them ‘false and factually incorrect.’ The ECI confirmed that Tejashwi’s name is listed in the draft electoral roll. The political climate in Bihar is becoming increasingly tense due to this dispute. The state’s draft electoral roll became public on Friday, with a low percentage of the 7.23 crore applicants having submitted the required documents. The SIR process, designed to verify voter lists, is currently underway. The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar and 243 Electoral Officers will receive objections to discrepancies between August 1st and September 1st, 2025. The ECI aims to ensure an inclusive and transparent electoral roll. The last intensive revision in Bihar was conducted in 2003. Voters can check their details on the ECI website.
