PTI, NEW DELHI, JULY 8, 2025 : As Opposition parties join hands to hit out at the Election Commission over intensive revision of Bihar’s voters’ list, poll authority officials said on Tuesday that the exercise is “inclusive”. The Opposition has increased its intensity of attack on the EC for the electoral roll revision, saying it will deprive crores of voters their right to exercise franchise.
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on July 10 a batch of petitions challenging the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. Several fresh pleas, including a joint petition by leaders of Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, JMM, CPI, and CPI (ML), were filed in the apex court against the poll panel’s decision to conduct the special intensive revision before Bihar goes to polls later this year. As the apex court is set to become the new battleground between the Opposition and the poll authority, Election Commission officials said the revision exercise is all-inclusive as it is reaching the existing 7,89,69,844 electors of Bihar.
They said pre-filled enumeration forms with details such as elector’s name, address, and old photo are made available to every existing elector. The pre-filled enumeration forms have been distributed to 7.69 crore or 97.42 per cent electors.
Booth-level officers are visiting each household at least three times to collect the filled-up enumeration forms, to ensure that no one is left out. The first visit has been completed, and the second visit is underway, they pointed out. Many electors were found to have died or have shifted or migrated. All those who submit enumeration forms will be included in the draft electoral roll to be published on August 1.
Electoral registration officers will prepare the draft electoral roll by including all the electors whose enumeration forms have been received before July 25. Eligibility documents can also be submitted separately during the claims and objections period, which ends on September 1, they underlined.
They said the eligibility of an elector is as per Article 326 of the Constitution, read with Sections 16 and 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. A person who is a citizen of India, not less than 18 years of age on the qualifying date, ordinarily resident in the constituency, and not otherwise disqualified under any law, is eligible to be on the voters’ list. Exclusion will only be after inquiry, with speaking orders of the ERO, which are appealable to the DM/CEO.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said on Tuesday that accurate electoral rolls are inevitable for strengthening democracy. Kumar’s remarks, made while addressing booth-level officers at a training programme here, come against the backdrop of various Opposition parties moving the Supreme Court questioning the intent of the special intensive revision ahead of the Bihar polls due later this year.
