ECI rejects allegations of bias in Bihar voter list drive, affirms transparency in SIR process


Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 6: Amid growing political noise over alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday firmly rejected all claims of manipulation and emphasized that the first phase of the revision exercise has been conducted smoothly and strictly in accordance with its laid-down guidelines.

Issuing a detailed press note, the ECI clarified that there have been no changes in the original SIR instructions issued on June 24, directly countering opposition allegations that the revision process was being tweaked to favour the ruling party ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. According to official data, a total of 1.69 crore Enumeration Forms have already been collected—representing nearly 21.46 per cent of Bihar’s 7.90 crore registered voters. Remarkably, over 65 lakh of these forms were submitted in the past 24 hours alone, demonstrating the pace and intensity of the process.

The Commission reiterated that the SIR is proceeding exactly as per instructions issued on June 24, 2025. It stated that the draft electoral rolls to be published on August 1 will include names of individuals whose enumeration forms have been received by then. Moreover, electors have until July 25 to submit their documentation. Even if any document is found lacking, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) can obtain the missing information during the scrutiny stage of the Claims and Objections period that follows the draft roll publication.

Responding to accusations of voter exclusion and lack of transparency, the poll panel outlined the scale and depth of the exercise. A massive field operation is underway with 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting door-to-door visits, collecting live photographs, and helping electors fill out necessary forms. To meet the operational demands, more than 20,000 additional BLOs have been deployed. Supporting them are over 4 lakh volunteers from various organizations including government staff, NCC cadets, and NSS workers, specifically tasked with assisting the elderly, differently-abled, and vulnerable citizens.

The commission further noted that the exercise is being closely supervised by 239 EROs, 963 Assistant EROs, and 38 District Election Officers. Political parties are also directly engaged in the process, with 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents appointed by them actively participating in the verification drive.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressed the political controversy head-on, stating that over the last four months, a total of nearly 5,000 meetings have been held with 28,000 political representatives. These meetings involved all 4,123 EROs, 775 DEOs, and 36 Chief Electoral Officers across the country. The CEC added that while every party expressed dissatisfaction with the electoral rolls for their own reasons, the Commission has continued its open-door approach and invited all recognized parties for direct interaction.

This official clarification follows a wave of criticism from opposition parties in Bihar, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress, and others, who have accused the Election Commission of orchestrating voter roll manipulation under the guise of the SIR. The Commission, however, has maintained that the process is being conducted with full transparency, wide participation, and strict adherence to guidelines.

  

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Title: ECI rejects allegations of bias in Bihar voter list drive, affirms transparency in SIR process



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