Bihar is experiencing heightened political tensions as the state gears up for the 2025 Assembly elections. A controversy has emerged concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, with allegations of inaccuracies. Concerns include the potential inclusion of deceased individuals and the omission of living citizens from the voter list. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, a prominent CM candidate and son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, claimed his name was missing from the draft voter list after he completed the necessary enumeration form. He questioned how he would participate in the upcoming elections. The Janata Dal (United) responded, accusing Tejashwi of spreading misinformation about the voter list issue. The Patna district administration clarified that Tejashwi Yadav’s name is correctly registered, although his polling station and serial number have been changed. Tejashwi expressed concerns over potential manipulation of voter details, questioning the integrity of the process. The Election Commission refuted Tejashwi’s claims, stating his name is present in the electoral roll. JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar labeled Tejashwi a ‘political fraud’. The Election Commission clarified that Tejashwi’s name is listed at Serial Number 416 in the Draft Electoral Roll. Bihar’s draft electoral roll has been released, with a relatively low number of applicants submitting required documentation. The SIR is a crucial voter list verification process, and the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar will address any objections. The last intensive revision took place in 2003. Voters can check their details on the ECI website.
