The narrative around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is sharply contrasted by the ongoing Opposition uproar in Parliament. While political critics allege that the SIR process may disenfranchise voters or lacks transparency, the data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) tells a very different story.
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya has targeted the Opposition over its resistance to the Special Intensive Revision process. In a sharp post, he tweeted on X (formerly Twitter) that despite the Opposition’s uproar in Parliament, not a single complaint has been filed in Bihar regarding the inclusion or exclusion of any voter. He argued that this undermines their credibility and proves the I.N.D.I. Alliance lacks a constructive agenda.
As evident from the ECI’s official bulletin, between August 1 and August 8, 2025, not a single claim or objection has been filed by any political party in Bihar against the inclusion or exclusion of any voter in the draft electoral rolls. The table lists major national and state parties, including the BJP, Congress, RJD, and others, with “0” received and disposed claims for all of them. This is significant considering these same parties have previously raised concerns over the accuracy and fairness of the electoral rolls.
This reality undercuts narratives of mass disenfranchisement supposedly being orchestrated under SIR. The ECI has also reiterated that claims and objections can be filed by both voters and parties until September 1, 2025, and that strict guidelines prevent any arbitrary deletion of names. Removals from the draft electoral list can only happen through a speaking order issued by the responsible officers after proper inquiry and an opportunity for response.
Malviya further accused the Opposition of obstructing every progressive legislation and reform, even those they themselves had proposed in the past but failed to implement due to a lack of political will. According to him, their current approach is less about safeguarding democracy and more about political grandstanding.
The Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision is a routine, transparent process aimed at ensuring the accuracy of electoral rolls. While the Congress and its allies have chosen to question the exercise inside Parliament, the absence of formal challenges at the state level raises questions about whether their objections are rooted in substantive concerns or political posturing.
