Why is the Election Commission Under Fire Over Bihar's Voter Roll Revision?

Election Commission Defends Voter Roll Revision in Bihar

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has come forward to support the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which is taking place in preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections. This announcement comes amidst heightened protests from the Mahagathbandhan alliance, which claims that the revision is a calculated move to disenfranchise voters.

In a post on X, the ECI referenced Article 326 of the Indian Constitution to justify the SIR process, stating, “Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be based on adult suffrage.” This means that every Indian citizen aged 21 or older, who is not disqualified for reasons such as non-residence or criminal activity, is entitled to register as a voter.

Congress chief spokesperson Pawan Khera responded sharply on social media, reminding the ECI of its constitutional duty to protect the voting rights of all citizens. He invoked B.R. Ambedkar’s vision for a fair and impartial electoral system, emphasizing that the franchise is a fundamental aspect of democracy.

Khera quoted Ambedkar, stating, “To prevent injustice to those radically, linguistically, or culturally different from the dominant people in a province, the election machinery must be under a Central Election Commission… so that no injustice may be done to any citizen in India.”

This exchange occurred as the Mahagathbandhan, which includes the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Left parties, initiated a statewide Bihar Bandh on Wednesday.

Opposition leaders have accused the ECI of conducting the SIR as a covert strategy to disenfranchise significant portions of the electorate, particularly among marginalized and minority groups.

Prominent figures such as Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav have taken the lead in the protests in Patna.