Patna, July 20: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has escalated his protest against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, warning it could lead to the exclusion of up to 15% of eligible voters ahead of crucial state elections.
In a coordinated political move, Yadav has written letters to 35 prominent opposition leaders across India, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, LoP Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, seeking united opposition to what he calls a “systematic attack on voting rights.”
Core Allegations
Massive Voter Exclusion: Citing ECI press notes (July 16, 2025), Tejashwi Yadav claims 4.5% of voters have already been marked “not found at their addresses,” with another 4% labeled as “deceased/permanently shifted.” Ground reports from journalists and political analysts suggest the final exclusion rate could reach 12-15%—potentially affecting ‘millions’ in Bihar’s 2025 polls.
Opaque Process: Accuses ECI of acting in a “haphazard and high-handed” manner, changing rules arbitrarily and targeting critics demanding transparency. He highlights discrepancies in door-to-door verification and lack of public awareness campaigns.
Political Motivations: Links the exercise to the BJP, alleging the revision aims to “disproportionately target opposition-leaning constituencies.” Yadav warns that if unchallenged, similar revisions may follow in other states.
Opposition Mobilization
Yadav’s letter frames the issue as a national democratic emergency, urging opposition unity: “If we fail to resist this in Bihar, it will become the template for manipulating voter lists across India… The Constitution demands we defend the republic.” He invoked Maharashtra’s 2024 election controversies, where similar voter-list disputes arose, to underscore the urgency. While the ECI maintains the SIR is a routine exercise to clean up duplicate/irregular entries, critics note: The timing (just months before expected elections) raises suspicions. Past revisions rarely exceeded 2-3% exclusion rates—making Bihar’s 15% projection anomalous.
Political Implications
For Bihar- The dispute could become a central poll issue, with RJD-led INDIA bloc positioning itself as the defender of voting rights.
Nationally- Opposition parties may use this to amplify claims of “institutional bias” ahead of 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Opposition leaders are expected to hold emergency meetings this week to formalize a joint strategy. Legal challenges or street protests loom if the ECI doesn’t address transparency demands.
With Bihar’s voter list covering 78 million electors, even a 5% exclusion could swing results in tightly contested seats. The controversy tests both the ECI’s credibility and opposition unity against the BJP’s electoral machinery.