With the Bihar Assembly elections set for 2025, controversy has emerged concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s voter rolls. Allegations of inaccuracies have surfaced, including the purported inclusion of deceased individuals and the exclusion of eligible voters. Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD’s CM candidate and son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, has claimed his name is missing from the Election Commission’s draft voter list, despite submitting the enumeration form. The Janata Dal (United) swiftly responded, accusing Tejashwi of spreading misinformation.
During a press conference in Patna, Tejashwi Yadav asserted that his name was absent from the electoral roll, questioning how he could participate in the upcoming elections. He further stated that even with his EPIC number, his information was not found in the system. The Patna district administration clarified that Tejashwi Yadav’s name is indeed registered, but his polling station and serial number have been changed. In response, Tejashwi questioned the extent of these changes, suggesting a broader attempt to remove names from the voter list. JDU’s chief spokesperson, Neeraj Kumar, condemned Tejashwi Yadav, calling him a “political fraud” and accusing him of misleading the public. The Election Commission (ECI) promptly refuted these claims, confirming that Tejashwi’s name appears in the draft electoral roll. The ongoing controversy has intensified the political climate in Bihar, particularly as the elections draw near. With the draft electoral roll now available, a small percentage of the 7.23 crore applicants have provided the necessary documentation.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Electoral Roll is a specific voter list verification process currently underway in Bihar. The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar and 243 Electoral Officers will invite voters and any recognized political parties to file their objections regarding any discrepancies in the electoral roll. These objections can be made from August 1, 2025, to September 1, 2025. The objectives of the exercise are to ensure the inclusion of names of all eligible citizens in the electoral roll in a transparent manner. The last intensive revision for Bihar was conducted in the year 2003. The voters can check their details at the ECI website.