What Caused the Uproar in Bihar Assembly Over Voter List Revision?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Opposition MLAs are raising concerns over the SIR of the voter list.
- Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav warned of potential actions against disruptive MLAs.
- Tejashwi Yadav highlighted the threat to democracy in Bihar.
- The unrest underscores the importance of electoral integrity ahead of the 2025 elections.
- Women MLAs escalated tensions by throwing a chair in protest.
Patna, July 22 (NationPress) On the second day of the Bihar Legislative Assembly's monsoon session, opposition MLAs created a commotion demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, resulting in several adjournments.
As the session commenced, opposition MLAs stormed the Well of the House, seized a chair positioned in front of the Speaker, and chanted slogans advocating for a debate on the revision of the voter list.
In response to the disruption, Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav sternly cautioned the MLAs to uphold order within the House.
He pointed out that the opposition members had the chance to speak during the first session, yet they did not take advantage of it.
Ultimately, he adjourned the first half until 2 p.m. amidst chaos, but the uproar resumed in the latter half.
During the turmoil, women MLAs hurled a chair towards the reporting table, heightening the tension.
A scuffle ensued between marshals and MLAs, resulting in the tearing of a marshal’s clothing.
Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav entered the Assembly clad in a black kurta as a form of protest.
He remarked, “There are attempts to undermine democracy in Bihar. The Election Commission’s procedures are flawed. A meeting of the Advisory Committee must be convened to deliberate on the voter list revision. What purpose do bills serve if voter names are being expunged? If voters are deprived of their voting rights, how can we claim to exist in a democratic nation?”
He further asserted, “If we cannot discuss the voter list revision in this temple of democracy, then where else can we? The state’s democracy is in peril.”
This protest arises amidst ongoing opposition apprehensions regarding the SIR initiative in Bihar, where they claim significant deletions of voter names are occurring ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
The Speaker warned that actions may be taken against MLAs should the disruptions persist.