The upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar in 2025 have ignited a new political dispute surrounding the accuracy of the voter list, specifically regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Allegations of errors and irregularities have surfaced, with claims of deceased individuals included in the rolls and living citizens being excluded. Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD’s CM candidate and son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, has claimed that his name is missing from the Election Commission’s draft voter list, despite having filled out the required form. Janata Dal (United) has accused Tejashwi of trying to mislead the public on the issue.
During a press conference in Patna, Tejashwi Yadav stated that his name was not present in the electoral roll, raising questions about his ability to participate in the elections. He also mentioned that even with his EPIC number, his information couldn’t be found in the system. The Patna district administration clarified that his name is registered, but his polling station and serial number had been changed. Tejashwi questioned the scope of these changes, suggesting a possible conspiracy to remove names. JDU’s chief spokesperson, Neeraj Kumar, condemned Tejashwi, calling him a “political fraud” for misleading the public. The Election Commission immediately refuted these claims, confirming that Tejashwi Yadav’s name is included in the draft electoral roll. This back-and-forth has intensified the political climate in Bihar. Bihar’s draft electoral roll is now live, with a minority of the 7.23 crore applicants submitting the required documentation. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Electoral Roll is a voter list verification process currently underway in Bihar. Objections can be filed from August 1st to September 1st, 2025. The ECI issued instructions for conducting the exercise to ensure the inclusion of names of all eligible citizens in the electoral roll in a transparent manner. The last intensive revision for Bihar was conducted in the year 2003. Voters can check their details on the ECI website.