Controversy Erupts Over Bihar's Draft Voter List Ahead of Elections

Bihar's updated draft voter list, featuring 72.4 million names, is embroiled in controversy due to claims of including wrong photographs and deceased individuals. Critics argue the process favors the ruling party ahead of approaching elections, calling into question the integrity of the electoral revision.

In Bihar, India, the publication of updated draft electoral rolls has incited significant controversy ahead of the upcoming elections scheduled for November. The Election Commission's new list reportedly contains 72.4 million names, a reduction of 6.5 million from previous counts, including allegations of wrong photographs and listings of deceased individuals.

Following a month-long review period known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), conducted from June 25 to July 26, the commission claims to have verified every one of the state’s 78.9 million voters. However, opposition parties and election advocacy groups criticize the process as rushed and flawed. They express deep concerns that many eligible voters, particularly Muslims in border districts, may have been unjustly removed from the rolls to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The commission has noted that 2.2 million deceased individuals and 700,000 people registered multiple times have been excluded from the list. With the corrections process open until September 1, over 165,000 applications have already been submitted. The election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) claims the SIR has disenfranchised millions, particularly among marginalized communities in one of India's poorest states.

Reports suggest that many residents in rural Bihar are unaware of the SIR process or its implications. For instance, residents of Danara village, who are part of the economically disadvantaged Mahadalit community, expressed fears about losing their voting rights, which they believe are critical for their survival.

Some villagers, like Tarkeshwar Singh, reported serious discrepancies in the draft voter list. Errors included incorrect photos next to their names and listings of deceased family members. Complaints about the apparent lack of thorough verification have fueled allegations of administrative negligence.

Critics, including members of the RJD party, blame the Election Commission for inadequate outreach and support during the revision process. Meanwhile, the BJP and its ally, Janata Dal (United), dismissed these criticisms as politically motivated, emphasizing the need to root out non-citizens from voter rolls.

As the debate continues, the Supreme Court is also examining the validity and timing of the voter list revision. ADR officials are preparing to challenge the process legally, amid fears that the rushed timeline may lead to widespread disenfranchisement.