Political Storm Brews in Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav’s Voter List Claim and Subsequent Rebuttals

The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Electoral Roll in Bihar has become a flashpoint for political debate, ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. Concerns have arisen regarding the accuracy of the list, with claims of deceased individuals being included and legitimate voters being omitted. Tejashwi Yadav, representing the RJD, asserted that his name was not included in the Election Commission’s draft voter list, despite completing the enumeration form during the SIR process. The JDU responded sharply, accusing Yadav of deception. At a press conference, Yadav stated his name was missing from the electoral roll, despite entering his Elector’s Photo Identification Card (EPIC) number. The Patna district administration immediately countered, clarifying that Yadav’s name is registered, though his polling station and serial number were altered. Yadav questioned the changes and suggested a possible attempt to remove people from the voter list. JDU’s chief spokesperson, Neeraj Kumar, criticized Yadav, calling him a ‘political fraud.’ The Election Commission swiftly denied Yadav’s claims, clarifying that his name is listed in the draft electoral roll. The exchange has intensified the already heated political climate in Bihar, particularly as the elections draw closer. The SIR process aims to ensure the inclusion of all eligible citizens in the electoral roll in a transparent manner. The last intensive revision in Bihar was conducted in 2003.