New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Friday reiterated that no political party has submitted any formal claim or objection to the draft electoral rolls for Bihar, despite the ongoing controversy and political outcry.
The Commission had invited feedback following the publication of the draft rolls on August 1, allowing parties and individuals to highlight discrepancies or propose corrections. However, even after more than a week, no political outfit has filed any official complaint or objection, the EC clarified in its daily bulletin on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process currently underway in Bihar.
While political parties have remained silent on paper, the Election Commission disclosed that it has received 6,257 claims and objections directly from individual voters regarding inaccuracies in the draft roll. In addition, 36,060 new applications were submitted by first-time voters who have recently turned 18.
As per SIR guidelines, these claims and objections will be addressed by the respective Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) only after the mandatory 7-day period from submission. Importantly, any deletion of names from the draft roll requires a formal order by the ERO/AERO following a proper inquiry and giving the concerned elector a fair chance to respond.
The electoral roll revision exercise has sparked significant political unrest, with the INDIA bloc raising concerns about the possible large-scale deletion of voters in Bihar. The opposition alliance has been actively protesting in Parliament since the beginning of the monsoon session, demanding a debate on the SIR process and its implications.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi escalated the issue on Thursday, accusing the EC of orchestrating elections. Citing alleged irregularities in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, Gandhi claimed that over one lakh votes were fraudulently removed, referring to it as “vote chori” (vote theft). “Elections are being choreographed,” he stated in a press conference, suggesting systemic manipulation.
Despite these serious public accusations, the EC has maintained that the integrity of the voter roll is being safeguarded through a transparent and legally binding process. Officials stress that no eligible voter will be excluded and no ineligible person included, reiterating the Commission’s commitment to fair electoral practices.
As the SIR process continues, all eyes remain on how the Commission addresses both the direct submissions by citizens and the political storm brewing over voter rights in Bihar.
