Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Jul 3: As Bihar gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, the state government has placed a blanket ban on the transfer of all personnel involved in the Special Intensive Voter List Revision Programme 2025. The move, initiated under the directive of the Election Commission of India (ECI), is aimed at ensuring the smooth and effective execution of what is being called a high-priority national exercise, with Bihar leading its first implementation.

Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates across the state have received strict instructions to ensure full deployment of officers and staff engaged in the revision drive. Officials from the Home Department stressed that key roles—such as Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and their supervisors—must remain uninterrupted throughout the process.

To maintain continuity, the government has prohibited the transfer of personnel typically assigned to field duties like BLOs, including schoolteachers, Anganwadi Sevikas, Panchayat Secretaries, Vikas Mitras, Tola Sevaks, and Kachari Secretaries, until further notice. Simultaneously, authorities have been instructed to arrange for alternate staff to handle the routine responsibilities of these individuals so that other government functions remain unaffected.

In an innovative approach to raise awareness and encourage public participation, the Election Commission has deployed loudspeakers and solid waste collection vehicles to disseminate information door-to-door about the voter list revision campaign. The goal is to enhance the accuracy of electoral rolls ahead of the elections by identifying and removing duplicate or ineligible entries, enrolling new voters—particularly first-timers turning 18—and updating voter details.

However, the revision programme has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders who argue that conducting such an intensive exercise within a limited timeframe is impractical. They have also questioned the timing, suggesting that launching the drive so close to the Assembly polls could potentially interfere with the integrity of the electoral process.

Despite the criticism, the Election Commission remains committed to executing the programme in full, positioning it as a critical step toward ensuring a cleaner, more accurate voter database as Bihar prepares for a high-stakes electoral battle.