Nitish Kumar’s MP Girdhari Yadav slams EC over Bihar voter revision under SIR electoral roll, calling it a blunder imposed without ground reality ahead of crucial state elections.
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NEW DELHI: Girdhari Yadav, a Member of Parliament from Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal United (JDU), has stirred political controversy by publicly opposing the Election Commission’s special intensive revision of the state’s voter list.
Opposition parties have alleged that the revision targets marginalized communities, while the Election Commission maintains it is a routine, constitutionally mandated process. The matter is currently being heard in the Supreme Court, which has raised questions about the revision’s timing and directed that the final list be published by September 30.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session, Girdhari Yadav said,
The Election Commission has no practical knowledge. It neither knows the history nor geography of Bihar. It took 10 days for me to collect all the documents. My son stays in America… how will he complete all formalities in just a month?
Yadav, who represents Banka constituency, expressed frustration over the short timeframe given for the voter list verification process. Citing personal experience, he questioned how people, especially those living abroad like his son, could complete all formalities within a month.
He further emphasized:
“Six months should have been given for this… It doesn’t matter what the party is saying, this is the truth. If I can’t say the truth, why have I become an MP?”
Bihar Voter List Revision Controversy
The Election Commission (EC) initiated the special intensive revision of Bihar’s voter list with the stated aim of cleaning up the electoral rolls by removing names of deceased individuals, migrants, and duplicate entries. According to the EC, around 52 lakh entries have already been deleted, with a notable number of voters reportedly residing abroad.
However, the move has drawn significant criticism due to its timing, coming just months before the Assembly elections. Questions have also been raised over the exclusion of widely accepted IDs like Aadhaar and voter ID cards for verification, creating hurdles for many citizens.
Additionally, concerns have been voiced regarding the accessibility of the process for out-of-state or rural voters, and allegations have surfaced that the revision disproportionately affects marginalized communities, potentially skewing the electoral landscape.
While opposition parties such as the RJD and Congress have vocally condemned the revision, claiming it serves the political interests of the ruling BJP, Chirag Paswan, Union Minister and BJP ally, defended the process:
“Online forms can be filled… families can help those living outside Bihar. The process has been simplified.”
Supreme Court Involvement
On 24 June 2025, the Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls ahead of state elections. The goal is to include all eligible voters and remove ineligible, deceased, or absentee ones.
However, the move has drawn criticism for its tight deadlines, document requirements, and potential disenfranchisement of poor and migrant voters. Activists, including ADR and Yogendra Yadav, have challenged it in the Supreme Court, calling it arbitrary and unconstitutional. The ECI defends the process, saying it’s vital for fair elections. The SC will hear the matter on 10 July 2025.
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