Tejashwi Yadav Claims Electoral Roll Omission After EC’s Bihar Revision
Patna, August 2 – RJD leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has stirred political controversy by claiming that his name was removed from the voter list following the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The opposition leader raised the issue on Saturday, soon after the Election Commission (EC) released the draft electoral rolls, which showed the deletion of more than 65 lakh names from the list of 7.24 crore registered voters.
EC Drops 65 Lakh Names in Latest Draft Roll
The EC stated that the mass deletion occurred due to identification of deceased or migrated individuals during its recent SIR exercise. The draft roll has been published online, and printed copies are being distributed district-wise for party verification.
In its official statement, the EC maintained that the revision was necessary to ensure accuracy and fairness in the electoral process. Officials clarified that voters could still raise objections or submit claims until September 1, after which the final rolls will be released.
RJD Accuses EC of Unfair Process
Tejashwi Yadav and his Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have openly criticized the EC’s approach. In a strongly worded memorandum submitted to Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer, the party alleged lack of transparency and fairness.
Yadav said, “My name has been deleted from the electoral roll without any notice or reason. This is not just a technical issue, but a threat to democracy.”
RJD has demanded the EC provide an assembly segment-wise breakdown of the deletions, made accessible through digital formats like pen drives or CDs, to allow detailed scrutiny.
Timing of SIR Sparks Political Speculation
What has made the issue more sensitive is the timing of the revision. Bihar is expected to hold assembly elections in a few months, and the EC’s decision to conduct a special revision so close to the polls has drawn criticism from opposition parties.
Political observers note that this could impact voter confidence. Many fear that genuine voters may have been unfairly removed from the list, especially those in opposition strongholds.
“It’s alarming that such a large number of names have been deleted. We suspect bias,” said a senior RJD leader.
Objections Phase Open Until September 1
The Election Commission has allowed all political parties and citizens to review the draft rolls and submit any discrepancies through the claims and objections process.
This mechanism is designed to rectify errors before the final list is published. However, RJD maintains that the process must be more accessible and transparent.
The party has called on the EC to conduct field-level re-verification of the deletions, especially in urban and semi-urban constituencies where mass migration is common.
Conclusion: Voter Rights Under Spotlight
The controversy over Tejashwi Yadav’s alleged name deletion has put Bihar’s electoral machinery under the spotlight. As the state gears up for the next assembly elections, the EC faces pressure to ensure that all eligible voters—regardless of political affiliation—are rightfully included in the final electoral rolls.