Why Have Opposition Parties Not Raised Objections Over Bihar SIR?
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Synopsis
In a surprising turn of events, despite ongoing criticism from opposition parties regarding the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll in Bihar, the Election Commission of India has reported that no objections have been filed. What does this mean for the upcoming elections?
Key Takeaways
- No objections filed by opposition parties regarding Bihar's SIR.
- Over 67,000 booth-level agents monitoring the process.
- Campaign aims at ensuring ‘No Elector Left Behind’.
- 65 lakh voters excluded from the new draft electoral rolls.
- Transparency in the electoral process is crucial.
New Delhi/Patna, Aug 5 (NationPress) Despite the criticism from Opposition parties regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar, an election office source revealed that not a single alleged irregularity has been reported to the Election Commission of India (ECI) by their over 67,000 booth level agents (BLA).
Since the unveiling of the draft voter list on August 1, the state election office has received requests from 2,864 individual electors seeking the addition or removal of names in the draft voter list.
Sources from the Bihar election office indicated that, contrary to the allegations and narrative from the Opposition parties claiming that the SIR poses a risk of disenfranchisement for numerous electors, they have not reported even a single infirmity in the process.
According to the poll panel, no claims or objections have been submitted by any political party since August 1.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has 47,506 booth-level agents, while the Congress has 17,549, and the Left has over 2,000, cumulatively exceeding 67,000.
The ECI has been consistently reaching out to political parties, urging their participation in the revision exercise and to report any instances of disenfranchisement.
The draft electoral rolls for all 90,712 polling booths across 243 Assembly Constituencies were distributed to all political parties by 38 DEOs of Bihar on August 1, 2025, as stated by the ECI.
For claims and objections regarding the addition of eligible electors, the ECI previously provided a list of those whose names were included in the June 24 Electoral Roll but are absent from the August 1 draft.
Last month, the ECI completed the enumeration phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, conducted from June 24 to July 25. Over 7.24 crore electors from a total of 7.89 crore submitted their enumeration forms during this period.
Ultimately, 65 lakh voters were not included in the state’s new draft electoral rolls published on August 1. This figure comprises 22 lakh deceased electors (2.83%), 36 lakh (4.59%) who had moved permanently or were untraceable, and seven lakh (0.89%) who had registered in multiple locations, according to ECI data.
“This extensive campaign, initiated just months ahead of the crucial Bihar assembly elections, is aimed at ensuring ‘No Elector Left Behind’, focusing on first-time voters, urban populations, migrants, and vulnerable categories such as the elderly and individuals with disabilities,” an official statement remarked.
Point of View
It is crucial to remain unbiased and focus on facts. The lack of objections from opposition parties raises questions about the efficacy of their claims. As the elections approach, transparency and integrity in the electoral process must be prioritized to ensure that every eligible voter is heard.
NationPress
08/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an electoral exercise conducted by the Election Commission to update and ensure the accuracy of voter rolls, allowing for the addition and removal of names.
How many voters were excluded from the new draft electoral rolls?
According to the ECI, a total of 65 lakh voters did not appear in the newly published draft electoral rolls, including deceased electors and those who relocated.
What is the purpose of the SIR campaign?
The SIR campaign aims to ensure that 'No Elector Left Behind' and focuses on including first-time voters, urban populations, migrants, and vulnerable groups such as the elderly and persons with disabilities.
How many booth-level agents are involved in the revision process?
Over 67,000 booth-level agents from various political parties are participating in the electoral roll revision process in Bihar.
When was the draft voter list released?
The draft voter list was released on August 1, 2025.
