Controversy Erupts Over Bihar's New Voter Roll amid Election Preparations

As Bihar prepares for crucial elections, the recently released draft electoral rolls have prompted widespread backlash from opposition parties and election watchdogs. Critics allege that the list includes wrong photographs and deceased individuals while disproportionately affecting Muslim populations. The Election Commission defends the process, asserting that it aimed to ensure accuracy after years of neglect.

In the lead-up to critical elections in Bihar, India's Election Commission unveiled updated draft electoral rolls, revealing a staggering 72.4 million names—6.5 million fewer than before—which sparked significant controversy. Opposition parties and election advocacy groups criticize the rapid nature of the revisions, alleging that numerous inaccuracies compromise the integrity of the voter list.

The Special Intensive Revision process (SIR), conducted from June 25 to July 26, aimed to update the list of 78.9 million registered voters through an extensive verification process. While the Commission indicates that the deletions chiefly involve the deceased and individuals enrolled multiple times, the opposition accuses the exercise of selectively targeting voters, particularly in regions with substantial Muslim populations.

Recent allegations consist of misleading voter data, including distorted photographs and inclusion of deceased voters alongside claims that many eligible citizens were unjustly removed. Concerns intensified as critics argue that the timing—three months before the assembly elections—does not allow sufficient opportunity to address these discrepancies.

Notably, reports highlighted that regions with larger Muslim demographics experienced greater voter deletions. Political opponents argue that these alterations may attempt to bolster Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) support ahead of the crucial elections, though both the Commission and BJP officials categorically deny these allegations. The lack of publicly available data regarding individuals removed from the voter list has made it difficult to substantiate claims and demands for transparency have heightened.

Parliamentary sessions have seen repeated adjournments amid opposition outcries, calling for a widespread discussion regarding the implications of the draft lists on democracy. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) is expected to file a legal petition challenging the process in the Supreme Court, arguing that it risks disenfranchising vulnerable communities, particularly among marginalized groups in the impoverished state.

While many villagers remain unaware of the implications of the SIR, local residents express profound concern that losing their voting rights could exacerbate cycles of poverty and marginalization. Local anecdotes reveal substantial documentation errors, with numerous people citing mismatches between their identities and that of others displayed on their records.

Political divisions deepen as the ruling Janata Dal (United) party, allied with the BJP, defends the revisions, calling for reform to eliminate duplicate entries. While opposition leaders raise alarms over the decision-making process, BJP officials reject accusations of bias, emphasizing that the SIR aims to safeguard electoral integrity by removing ineligible entries.

Complexity and confusion abound as the Election Commission's new efforts collide with the realities of an under-resourced electoral environment, ultimately casting uncertainty over the legitimacy of voter representation in Bihar. As stakeholders continue to navigate this fraught landscape in the lead-up to elections, the focus shifts to ensuring comprehensive verification that serves to uphold the democratic process.