Bihar elections: SC agrees to hear pleas challenging EC's electoral roll decision amid political uproar
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Bihar's SIR impact
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Amid a political uproar, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission of India 's move to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar on July 10.The move comes as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) approached the apex court, challenging the poll panel's decision to carry out a electoral rolls' revision activity in Bihar just months ahead of the Assembly elections. RJD's Manoj Jha has contended that one of the most affected classes are the migrant workers, many of whom despite remaining listed in the 2003 voter rolls, are unlikely to be able to return to Bihar within the stipulated time frame of 30 days to submit their enumeration forms leading to automatic deletion of their names from the electoral roll in violation of R 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.Congress had also indicated that they were exploring multiple options, including legal action and a mass agitation, to oppose the SIR in poll-bound Bihar, according to an ET report.Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera told reporters that the party had 'lost all faith in the ECI brass' after a meeting between Opposition leaders and the Election Commission the previous day. He alleged that the Commission's top officials were behaving like 'bicholia' (middlemen) of the government.Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Friday said that nearly 87 per cent of Bihar's 7.96 crore voters have already been provided with semi-filled enumeration forms as part of the ongoing SIR exercise. The forms were distributed during the first visit of booth-level officers (BLOs) to nearly 1.5 crore households across the state.According to the EC, over 6.86 crore forms have been handed out so far, with nearly 38 lakh already collected by BLOs. The Commission stated that the revision process is guided by the principle of 'Inclusion First' to ensure that no eligible voter is left out.In addition, around 1.55 lakh booth-level agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties are also taking part in the process. Each BLA is allowed to submit up to 50 certified forms per day.The 2025 SIR in Bihar is different on several counts. While an 'intensive' revision mostly involves a 'de novo' exercise, drawing up a fresh electoral roll from the scratch, the Bihar SIR is using the 2002-03 electoral roll as a base to build upon. At the same time, it involves a new pre-printed enumeration form included in the usual house-to-house verification format and document submission, associated with an 'intensive' revision. It is, also, very different from previous intensive revision exercises in terms of timing.EC has seldom ordered a full state and full-scale intensive revision in a state 4-6 months ahead of scheduled assembly elections, as is the case with Bihar. Bihar saw its last intensive revision in 2002, a good three years away from the assembly polls held in October 2005.Similarly, when the EC, on June 29, 2004 announced an intensive roll revision in eight states, it chose to leave out two states which were pending a similar intensive roll revision. These were Arunachal Pradesh & Maharashtra where assembly polls were due in October 2004.The EC has, in fact, often conducted 'intensive' revision in certain areas of a state.
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Time of India
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- Time of India
Patna DM writes to Bihar Deputy CM Sinha to submit his response on holding two EPIC IDs
The Patna District Magistrate (DM) on Sunday wrote to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, asking him to explain why his name appears on two voter ID cards (EPIC) in different constituencies. The DM said Sinha's name is listed in the draft electoral rolls for two Assembly areas. One is Bankipur (Constituency No. 182), and the other is Lakhisarai (Constituency No. 168). Both voter lists were published during the Special Intensive Revision in 2025. The DM also noted that Sinha's name was on both lists even before this revision. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program "Regarding the inclusion of your name in the voter lists of two Assembly constituencies in the draft electoral roll published based on the qualification date 01.07.2025," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo "It is informed that your name is recorded in the draft electoral roll published during the Special Intensive Revision, 2025, in Assembly Constituency No. 182 - Bankipur, Polling Station No. 405, Voter Serial No. 757, EPIC No. AFS 0853341, and additionally, your name is also recorded in Assembly Constituency No. 168 - Lakhisarai, Lakhisarai, EPIC No. IAF 3939337. 'Moreover, your name was found recorded at both places even prior to the Special Intensive Revision,' the DM added in his letter. The Deputy CM has been asked to submit his reply by 14 August. Live Events Earlier on Sunday, Vijay Kumar Sinha responded to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's claim that he holds two voter ID cards with different addresses and ages. He said that his whole family had voter IDs from Bankipur. In April 2024, he applied to add his name to the Lakhisarai constituency and to remove it from Bankipur. However, the removal did not happen immediately. He contacted the Booth Level Officer (BLO), filled out a form, and took a receipt as proof. Sinha explained that he voted only from Lakhisarai in the last election and will do so again. He also said the deletion form he submitted was rejected for some reason. After the draft voter list was published, he raised the issue with the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ECI has given a one-month correction window before the final voter list is published. Sinha said those questioning the Election Commission do not trust the Constitution and are spreading confusion, which harms democracy. He asked Tejashwi Yadav to apologise, calling his allegations false and damaging. 'This is their jungle raj, BJP does not play such games. I neither commit age fraud nor insult any constitutional body,' Sinha said. He added that the people of Bihar and the whole country know how the RJD leader tries to tarnish others and should apologise for the false accusations. Inputs from agencies
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
No claims or objections over Bihar draft roll submitted by any political party, says ECI
The Election Commission of India on Sunday reiterated that no political party has submitted any claim or objection regarding the draft electoral rolls in Bihar. Between August 1 and August 10, not a single claim or objection has been received from any political party, according to data released by the EC.(HT Photo) More than a week ago, the poll body had asked to submit claims and objections to fix any errors in the draft electoral roll, which was published on August 1. Between August 1 and August 10, not a single claim or objection has been received from any political party, according to data released by the EC. Amid the escalating row over the special intensive revision of the electoral roll in Bihar, the poll body has repeatedly affirmed that no eligible voter will be left out, and no ineligible voter will be included in the final electoral roll. In a daily bulletin on the SIR of the electoral roll in Bihar, the EC said that it has received 8,341 claims and objections directly from electors regarding the draft roll till August 10. Meanwhile, the poll body has received 46,588 forms from new electors who have attained 18 years of age or above. The ECI said that according to the rules, the claims and objections are to be disposed of by the concerned Electoral Registration Officer/Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (ERO/AERO) after the expiry of seven days. "As per SIR orders, no name can be deleted from the draft list published on 1st August 2025 without passing a speaking order by the ERO/AERO after conducting an enquiry and after giving a fair and reasonable opportunity," the daily bulletin added. The opposition INDIA bloc has been heavily protesting against the SIR of the electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging that the process could result in the deletion of a large number of voters. They alleged that the exercise is an "attack on democracy". The opposition leaders have also protested in the Parliament since the beginning of the monsoon session, demanding a discussion on the Bihar SIR exercise. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday escalated his attack on the ECI, levelling allegations of "vote theft" against the poll body. He alleged that the elections are "choreographed". Presenting research data from a Karnataka constituency, Gandhi alleged "vote chori" of over 1 lakh votes. He made a massive claim that the ECI "colluded with the BJP to steal elections".
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
CEO asks Sunilkumar to sign declaration if he takes forward allegations on voters' list
The office of Chief Electoral Officer - Kerala (CEO) Rathan U. Kelkar has asked V.S. Sunilkumar, the Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Thrissur, to sign a declaration/oath should he wish to persist with his allegations concerning the voters' list for the polls. The Declaration/Oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, requires Mr. Sunilkumar to affirm that his statement is true to the best of his knowledge and belief; that he is aware that making a false declaration in connection with electoral rolls is punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and also that giving false evidence is punishable under Section 227 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The CEO's office wrote to Mr. Sunilkumar on Sunday on the basis of a letter to it from the District Election Officer (DEO)/District Collector, Thrissur, stating that the concerns raised by the political parties on the electoral revision 'were taken into account and disposed in time.' The DEO's letter to the CEO was in response to Mr. Sunilkumar's remarks to the media made on August 9. In the letter to Mr. Sunilkumar, the CEO's office strongly condemned his remarks. It has urged all stakeholders to refrain from making accusations against election officials. Election officials perform their duties with impartiality, diligence, and in strict compliance with the electoral laws and instructions of the Election Commission of India, it said. Constructive feedback and genuine grievances should always be channelled through the appropriate legal and administrative mechanisms, the CEO's office said. 'Proper procedure' When contacted, Mr. Kelkar said there was nothing extraordinary about seeking the declaration/oath. 'We have said that we have taken all steps. The District Collector, Thrissur, also has given a detailed reply. So if he wants to pursue it further, this is the proper procedure. It is not a new thing we have introduced,' he said.
