As Bihar prepares for the 2025 Assembly elections, a dispute has arisen regarding the accuracy of the voter list. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll has come under scrutiny, with allegations of irregularities being made. Claims include the inclusion of deceased individuals and the omission of living citizens. Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD’s CM candidate, has claimed that his name is missing from the draft voter list, sparking a heated exchange.
During a press conference, Tejashwi Yadav stated that he had filled out the necessary enumeration form during the special revision process, but his name was not on the voter list. He questioned how he would be able to contest the elections. He reported that when his EPIC number was entered, his details were not found in the system.
The Patna district administration immediately responded, confirming that Tejashwi Yadav’s name is present in the voter list, although his polling station and serial number have been changed. Yadav responded by questioning the implications of these changes. JDU’s chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar called Tejashwi a ‘political fraud,’ accusing him of misleading the public. The Election Commission (ECI) refuted Yadav’s claims, labeling them ‘false and factually incorrect,’ and confirming that his name is listed in the draft electoral roll. This incident has heightened the already tense political climate in Bihar, especially in the lead-up to the elections. The SIR process in Bihar involves a period for objections to be filed, intended to ensure an accurate and transparent voter list.