EC Defends Bihar Voter List Revision Amid Protests, Questions Raised Over Fairness and Constitutional Duty

New Delhi: In the face of mounting protests inside Parliament, the Bihar Assembly, and on the streets, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a strong defence of its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. As opposition leaders accuse the poll body of targeting certain communities ahead of the assembly elections, the Commission countered with a sharp rebuttal, asserting that a clean and updated voter list is central to the democratic process.

In a detailed public statement released Thursday, the ECI raised pointed questions: “Should the Commission ignore the Constitution simply to satisfy critics? Should the electoral system continue to carry the burden of fake voters, deceased individuals, or duplicate names?”

Without directly naming any political party, the Commission said, “At some point, all of us — all citizens of India — must come together, rise above political ideologies, and deeply reflect on these crucial questions.”

The poll body emphasized that the revision exercise is part of a constitutionally mandated duty to ensure “free, fair, and transparent elections.” It reiterated that the SIR in Bihar follows a due process and is being carried out with the same guidelines as in other states. The Commission also stated that the exercise is intended to eliminate names of deceased voters, those who have permanently migrated, or duplicate and ineligible entries.

The opposition, particularly in Bihar, has strongly criticised the timing and nature of the revision, accusing the BJP-led Centre of engineering a “targeted deletion” campaign against marginalised and minority communities. Several MLAs from RJD, Congress, and Left parties staged a walkout in the Bihar Assembly earlier this week and held demonstrations on the premises, accusing the ECI of functioning under political pressure.

Outside the Assembly, protests intensified on Thursday, with youth wings of opposition parties taking to the streets in Patna. “This is a deliberate attempt to suppress votes before the elections. They want to snatch away our democracy,” claimed a senior RJD leader.

Despite the pushback, the ECI has remained firm, maintaining that the voter roll update is not just legal, but vital to ensuring that no fake or ineligible voter influences the electoral outcome in Bihar or elsewhere.

New Delhi: In the face of mounting protests inside Parliament, the Bihar Assembly, and on the streets, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a strong defence of its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. As opposition leaders accuse the poll body of targeting certain communities ahead of the assembly elections, the Commission countered with a sharp rebuttal, asserting that a clean and updated voter list is central to the democratic process.

In a detailed public statement released Thursday, the ECI raised pointed questions: “Should the Commission ignore the Constitution simply to satisfy critics? Should the electoral system continue to carry the burden of fake voters, deceased individuals, or duplicate names?”

Without directly naming any political party, the Commission said, “At some point, all of us — all citizens of India — must come together, rise above political ideologies, and deeply reflect on these crucial questions.”

The poll body emphasized that the revision exercise is part of a constitutionally mandated duty to ensure “free, fair, and transparent elections.” It reiterated that the SIR in Bihar follows a due process and is being carried out with the same guidelines as in other states. The Commission also stated that the exercise is intended to eliminate names of deceased voters, those who have permanently migrated, or duplicate and ineligible entries.

The opposition, particularly in Bihar, has strongly criticised the timing and nature of the revision, accusing the BJP-led Centre of engineering a “targeted deletion” campaign against marginalised and minority communities. Several MLAs from RJD, Congress, and Left parties staged a walkout in the Bihar Assembly earlier this week and held demonstrations on the premises, accusing the ECI of functioning under political pressure.

Outside the Assembly, protests intensified on Thursday, with youth wings of opposition parties taking to the streets in Patna. “This is a deliberate attempt to suppress votes before the elections. They want to snatch away our democracy,” claimed a senior RJD leader.

Despite the pushback, the ECI has remained firm, maintaining that the voter roll update is not just legal, but vital to ensuring that no fake or ineligible voter influences the electoral outcome in Bihar or elsewhere.