Is RJD's Claim of Mass Disenfranchisement in Bihar Justified?

New Delhi, July 7 (NationPress) In a pointed response to the current voter roll revision process in Bihar, RJD MP Manoj Jha expressed significant worries regarding what he describes as a widespread disenfranchisement strategy aimed at the underprivileged, Dalits, Muslims, and backward communities.

His statements emerged as opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), approached the Supreme Court to contest the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) initial phase of voter list revision in the state.

“This concern is not personal—it is collective,” Jha shared with IANS.

“This is the concern of every impoverished individual who is being targeted for removal from the electoral list.”

Jha criticized the ECI's methodology as exclusionary, deeming it particularly unfair in a state like Bihar, which he referred to as “document-deficit.”

He highlighted that requesting 11 specific documents within a mere 25 days makes compliance nearly impossible for many, especially those residing outside the state.

“You’re revising rolls after 22 years and allowing just 25 days. You know Bihar lacks easy access to certificates. You know 20% of the population lives outside the state. How can they gather these documents? How can they return, collect them, and submit them within this constrained timeframe?” Jha told IANS.

The RJD representative asserted that the entire process infringes upon Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, which advocate for voter inclusion.

“However, this entire initiative is centered on exclusion. Even the public notices published in newspapers have only generated confusion. You are granting excessive authority to local officials—Electoral Registration Officers (EROs)—who can now arbitrarily add or remove names. This is deeply concerning.”

He emphasized that this is not merely a legal or technical issue but fundamentally a democratic one.

“Today, every major newspaper in Bihar has reported on this. Individuals from all castes and religions are apprehensive. There was no consultation with stakeholders, no transparency. In such circumstances, approaching the Supreme Court was the only recourse.”

The opposition INDIA bloc has announced a Bihar Bandh on July 9, opposing the voter list revision. The coalition contends that this initiative could disenfranchise nearly 20% of the state’s 8 crore voters, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups.

“Who are the ones facing exclusion? The impoverished, the backward, the Dalits, the Muslims. This situation transcends documentation—it concerns trust in the system. The ECI must remember that it is not the custodian of suspicion; it is the guardian of free and fair elections.”

Jha also expressed concerns regarding the recent ‘Sanatan Mahakumbh’ held at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, where Bageshwar Dham leader Dhirendra Krishna Shastri called for a ‘Bhagwa-e-Hind’ and demanded the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra.

“We are advocates of the Constitution. We believe in Ambedkar, Gandhi, and Nehru. India is a multi-religious, multi-lingual nation with diverse traditions. Our flag is tricolor, not monochrome. A one-nation-one-religion ideology does not resonate with the spirit of India.”

Jha also addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments at the BRICS Summit, where the PM labeled terrorism as “the most serious challenge facing humanity” and emphasized the need for unequivocal condemnation.

“This platform has always held global significance, and the Prime Minister’s message was indeed impactful. However, when US President Donald Trump issues threats regarding BRICS and its potential currency initiatives, we should have taken a strong stance to affirm our independence and challenge American dominance.”

Jha proposed that India must adopt a principled stance in this shifting geopolitical landscape and avoid appearing passive in the face of economic coercion.

In a social media message, Trump warned of a 10% tariff on any nation aligning with what he termed BRICS’ “anti-American policies.” He had previously threatened a 100% tariff if BRICS progresses with plans to decrease dollar reliance in global trade.