Opposition leaders from Bihar, part of the INDIA bloc, strongly opposed the Election Commission’s move to revise the voter list just before the upcoming state Assembly elections. At a press conference held at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s residence on Friday (June 27), they called the revision process a ‘mockery of democracy and the Constitution’.
Tejashwi Yadav accused the ruling BJP-led NDA of trying to delete the names of poor and marginalized communities — including Dalits, tribals, minorities, and backward castes — from the voter list out of fear of losing the election.
He said that when most of Bihar is dealing with floods, expecting people to provide documents to prove their eligibility to vote is unfair. “People will save their families and belongings first — not their papers,” he pointed out.
Yadav also questioned why the Election Commission now wants to complete a massive voter list revision in just 25 days, when a similar task 22 years ago took two years. “Why wasn’t this done after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, if it was so necessary?” he asked. He challenged the Modi government to explain why the same voter list used in the recent general elections is suddenly being questioned now.
Backed by other INDIA bloc leaders, Yadav demanded an immediate halt to the revision drive. He added that only 2.8% of children born between 2001 and 2025 have official birth certificates, making it hard for many to prove their age or identity.
State Congress chief Rajesh Kumar compared the situation to Maharashtra, saying the EC was again being used to influence elections. He accused the central government of trying to shrink Bihar’s voter base under pressure.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera added that whenever the NDA government is in trouble, it leans on the Election Commission. He said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had raised questions about the EC’s role, but no answers were given. “And every time we question the EC, it’s the BJP that jumps to defend it,” Khera remarked.
CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya said the EC should have discussed this with all parties earlier. “It’s their job to register voters not ask them to prove their eligibility at the last minute,” he said, blaming the government for failing to provide basic documents like birth certificates. Other leaders, including CPI’s Rambabu Kumar and CPI(M)’s Arun Kumar, accused the Modi government of trying to manipulate the electoral process for political gain.
