'Not One Eligible Voter Will Be Aggrieved': CEC On Electoral Roll Review In Bihar Amid Oppn Attack
'Not One Eligible Voter Will Be Aggrieved': CEC On Electoral Roll Review In Bihar Amid Oppn Attack
Last Updated: India Politics
Amid the opposition's strong criticism of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday called the apprehension unfounded.Kumar's assurance came even as parties like the RJD, AIMIM, TMC and Congress questioned the special intensive revision (SIR). n18oc_indian18oc_politicsNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
CEC Gyanesh Kumar defends Bihar electoral roll revision amid opposition objections
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has justified the national poll body's move to conduct a special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, saying that it is aimed at avoiding any 'illegible' voter and ensuring that no one is left out of the voter list. CEC Gyanesh Kumar said that "the objective of SIR is to ensure that no eligible voter is left out",(PTI) The CEC's remark comes as opposition parties, including the likes of Trinamool Congress and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, have heavily condemned the ECI's move ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar. 'The objective of SIR is to ensure that no eligible voter is left out, and at the same time, no ineligible voter is included in the electoral roll. More than one lakh volunteers have also been deployed to assist the elderly, sick, persons with disabilities (PwD) and marginalised groups in filling up their Enumeration Forms', Kumar said in his statement, news agency PTI reported. ALSO READ | Bihar: Controversy over Election Commission's revision of electoral rolls In addition, the Election Commission also issued a statement on the matter and said that the SIR is needed since electoral rolls keep changing due to a variety of reasons, including deaths, migration, etc. 'Further, Article 326 of the Constitution specifies the eligibility to become an elector. Only Indian citizens, above 18 years and ordinary residents in that constituency, are eligible to be registered as an elector,' it said. The poll panel asserted that, according to the Representation of People Act 1950 and Rule 25 of the Registration of Electoral Rules 1960, the electoral roll must be revised before every election. ALSO READ | ECI 'shouldn't turn into party office': TMC on Bihar electoral roll revision Additionally, the EC said that it has also uploaded the 2003 electoral roll of Bihar on its website, a move it said would hugely facilitate the ongoing special intensive revision in the state. Opposition objects to SIR Senior Congress leader Digvijay on Sunday said that all the INDIA bloc parties may approach the judiciary against the ongoing SIR in Bihar if the Election Commission does not take heed of the objections raised by the opposition. Singh accused the BJP-led central government of trying to delete the names of poor and marginalised voters from the electoral rolls in the state. ALSO READ | Opposition may raise revision of electoral rolls in Parliament 'The SIR drive of the EC is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise poor, tribal, young, flood-affected, and migrant voters in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. All constituents of INDIA bloc may knock the door of judiciary against the ongoing SIR of the electoral roll in Bihar if the EC does not accept the opposition's objections about the drive. I met RJD supremo Lalu Prasad ji here on Saturday and requested him to speak to our party president Mallikarjun Kharge over the issue,' Singh said. Earlier, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi wrote to the ECI, highlighting objections to the ongoing SIR in Bihar. He pointed out that the electoral roll for Bihar has already undergone a special summary revision. He raised several objections to the exercise and said, "The SIR will have a deleterious effect on electors across the state due to its proximity to the upcoming assembly elections." Owaisi also accused the EC of secretly implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Bihar, warning that the SIR may harm public trust in the poll panel. The Trinamool Congress, including West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, have said that the special intensive revision is the EC's "sinister move" to bring NRC through the backdoor. TMC leader Derek O'Brien compared the EC's move to 'ancestor passes' in Nazi Germany. "Why is this exercise being suddenly done right now? We have evidence as to why it is being done now. It is because the latest internal survey of the BJP for Bengal shows 46-49 seats for the party in the state's assembly polls (early next year). In their desperation to attempt to change things you do such things," he claimed. TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose claimed that West Bengal was the "real target" of the exercise. "On June 26, the ECI announced that Special Intensive Revision will be conducted for Bihar Assembly polls, but the real target is Bengal," she said.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Voters born after 1987 in Bihar do not need to produce documents for parents if latter's names are there in 2003 Electoral Rolls: ECI
Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls for Bihar, the Election Commission of India on Monday (June 30, 2025) uploaded the 2003 voter rolls and clarified that those born after 1987 need not give the proof of birth of their parents if the latter's names figure in the 2003 rolls. The poll body said that an extract of the voter rolls will suffice in such cases. The ECI said in an official statement that the 2003 Electoral Roll of Bihar, comprising details of 4.96 crore electors have been uploaded on its website. In its detailed instructions on the SIR on June 24, the ECI had mentioned that the CEO/DEO/ERO shall make the Electoral Rolls with qualifying date of January 1, 2003, freely available to all Booth Level Officers (BLO) in hard copy, as well as online on their website for anyone to download and use as documentary evidence while submitting their Enumeration Form. 'The ease of availability of 2003 Electoral Rolls of Bihar, would hugely facilitate the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar as now nearly 60% of the total electorate, would not have to submit any documents. They have to just verify their details from the 2003 Electoral Rolls in the ER and submit the filled-up Enumeration Form. Both, the electors as well the BLOs, would be able to readily access these details,' the statement said. The poll body added that as per instructions, anyone whose name is not in the 2003 Bihar Electoral Rolls can still use the extract of 2003 Electoral Roll rather than providing any other documents for his or her mother or father. 'In such cases, no other document would be required for his/her mother or father. Only the relevant extract/details of the 2003 ER would be sufficient. Such electors would have to submit the documents, only for themselves, along with the filled-up Enumeration Form'. #Bihar SIR: 2003 Electoral Rolls Uploaded on #ECI Website ✅ 4.96 crore electors do not need to submit any documents ✅ Children of these 4.96 crore electors need not submit any other document relating to their parents Read more : — Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) June 30, 2025 According to the guidelines issued by ECI, any person whose name is not recorded in the 2003 Electoral Rolls shall for establishing their eligibility to be an elector submit from amongst a wide range of eligible government documents. Apart from the enumeration form, an additional Declaration Form shall also be required to be filled by the applicant to support the declaration made therein. For those born before July 1, 1987, any document establishing the date and place of birth of self is required, those born between July 1, 1987 to December 2, 2002, documents have to be given as proof of place and date of birth of self and either of the parents and those born after Dec 2, 2004, proof of place and date of birth has to be given of self and both parents. The poll body further said that Article 326 of the Constitution specifies the eligibility to become an elector. Only Indian citizens, above 18 years and ordinary residents in that constituency, are eligible to be registered as an elector.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
AIMIM To Join Team Opposition In Bihar Polls? What Asaduddin Owaisi Said
New Delhi: As the political temperature in Bihar rises months ahead of the Assembly polls, the NDA and the Opposition camp are holding frenetic negotiations over seat-sharing. Against this backdrop, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi has said he does not want an NDA government in Bihar and the party has spoken to leaders in the RJD-Congress Mahagathbandhan on the alliance subject. The Hyderabad MP pointed out that "nothing came out" of similar attempts in the last election. The Congress has, in the past, accused the AIMIM of being the BJP's 'B team' and said its contesting polls indirectly helps the BJP. It is also significant that Mr Owaisi's support base in the minority community can potentially upset the Muslim-Yadav combination RJD relies on. Also, Mr Owaisi had gained huge popularity over his public remarks in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor and this can potentially benefit the AIMIM in this election. In an interview with news agency ANI, Mr Owaisi said AIMIM's Bihar unit chief Akhtarul Iman has spoken to leaders of Mahagathbandhan. "Our state president, Akhtarul Iman, has spoken to some leaders in the Mahagathbandhan, and he has categorically stated that we do not want the BJP or NDA to come back in power in Bihar. Now it is up to these political parties that want to prevent the NDA from returning to power in Bihar. Five years ago, I had also tried it personally. Nothing came out of it." "This time, our state president is trying. But it is up to them. We will be contesting elections in Seemanchal and outside Seemanchal also. If they are not ready, I am ready to contest everywhere. Wait for the time to come. It is too early to announce the exact number (of seats)," he said. In the 2020 polls, AIMIM surprised by winning five of the 20 seats it contested. Four of its MLAs later joined RJD, but the poll performance still showed the party had gained political heft in Bihar. The AIMIM contesting separately has the potential to harm the Opposition alliance by splitting the minority vote, a key factor in the election. The BJP-JDU is looking to retain power in the upcoming polls, as smaller allies such as Chiraj Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas) are posturing to crack a good seat-sharing deal. The RJD and the Congress, on the other hand, will be looking to return to power. Jan Suraaj, a political front led by former poll strategist Prashant Kishor, is also in the fight this time.
