Bihar Electoral Roll Controversy: Tejashwi Yadav’s Allegations Met with Denial

The upcoming 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar have ignited controversy, specifically surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Accusations of irregularities include the inclusion of deceased individuals and the exclusion of living voters. Tejashwi Yadav, representing the RJD as a CM candidate and son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, contested the omission of his name from the Election Commission’s draft voter list after submitting the enumeration form. The JDU responded with accusations of Yadav misleading the public. During a press conference, Yadav emphasized that his name was absent from the electoral roll despite providing his EPIC number. The Patna district administration subsequently clarified that Yadav’s name is registered, though his polling station and serial number have been updated. Yadav expressed concerns about the modifications and hinted at a plot to remove voters. JDU’s Neeraj Kumar criticized Yadav’s actions, calling him a ‘political fraud’. The Election Commission promptly countered Yadav’s claims, asserting that his name is included in the draft electoral roll. This dispute has intensified the political climate in Bihar, particularly with the looming elections. The SIR, a process to verify voter lists, is currently underway, with the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar and 243 Electoral Officers involved. Objections can be filed between August 1st and September 1st, 2025.