The Election Commission of India is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, leading to widespread debate. Political figures, including Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, have voiced their opposition through voter rights rallies. The commission has sent notices to approximately 300,000 individuals who are believed to have originated from Bangladesh and Nepal, with the potential of removal from the voter list if responses are deemed unsatisfactory.
The primary goal of SIR is to cleanse the electoral rolls before the upcoming elections. The commission has targeted individuals with documented discrepancies. The Kishanganj district, which borders Nepal, has the highest number of cases.
There are concerns over individuals from Bangladesh and Nepal holding Indian voter identification cards. Interviews with residents in the Thakurganj area revealed that, due to the proximity to the Nepal border and traditional marriage ties, many residents find it difficult to provide the 11 types of documents now required by the BLOs. The reasons include the parents being Nepalese residents and, in many cases, the father is deceased.
Some individuals have requested that they be granted citizenship. Others have reported submitting all necessary documents to the BLO. One person whose father migrated from Bangladesh, but who was born in India, is anxious about losing their voting rights. This individual submitted a voter ID and Aadhaar card but lacked a residence proof because of work-related absence.
Akhilesh Yadav, from the Samajwadi Party, joined the protest in Bihar. He characterized SIR as an attempt to manipulate election results. He expressed concern that stripping away voting rights could lead to further disenfranchisement. He also criticized the ruling party’s approach to pressing issues like inflation and unemployment.