As Bihar prepares for the 2025 Assembly elections, the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll has led to a fresh round of accusations. Concerns regarding inconsistencies, such as the inclusion of deceased individuals and the omission of living voters, have emerged. Tejashwi Yadav, the CM candidate for the RJD and son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, has alleged that his name is not in the Election Commission’s draft voter list, despite his participation in the enumeration process. The JDU has responded by accusing Yadav of misleading the public regarding the voter list. During a press conference, Tejashwi stated that his name was not found in the electoral roll, casting doubt on his ability to contest the upcoming elections. He also highlighted issues with the information associated with his EPIC number. The Patna district administration clarified that Tejashwi Yadav’s name is registered but that his polling station and serial number have been updated. Yadav questioned how many other individuals had experienced similar changes, implying a conspiracy to manipulate the voter list. JDU’s Neeraj Kumar criticized Tejashwi, calling him a ‘political fraud’. The Election Commission swiftly refuted the claims, stating that Tejashwi Yadav’s name is present in the draft electoral roll. The situation has intensified the political atmosphere in Bihar. The draft electoral roll has been released, with a limited number of eligible applicants having submitted their required documents.
