Cong Slams EC Over Bihar Voter Roll Revisions

The Congress party on Tuesday, October 7, launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission (EC) regarding the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, accusing it of lacking transparency and integrity in removing non-citizens from the voter list.

In a pointed statement, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, questioned the EC’s refusal to disclose the number of non-citizens purged during the exercise. “Much was made of the need of the SIR exercise to remove non-citizens from the electoral roll. The EC has not had the integrity or the courage to enlighten the country on how many such non-citizens in Bihar were removed,” Ramesh said. He argued that such revelation would expose the Commission’s deeper flaws. “If it had done so, it would have been even more exposed than it already is.”

Ramesh shared an analysis of the SIR process published in a newspaper via X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the exercise comprehensively. “This fine analysis shows that the entire SIR exercise bulldozed through by the Election Commission has failed on all three counts of completeness, equity, and accuracy,” he posted, underscoring the party’s concerns over the revision’s fairness.

The criticism coincides with the resumption of a Supreme Court hearing on the Bihar SIR on Tuesday. Opposition parties, including Congress, have protested that the EC is operating under the influence of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), allegations the Commission has vehemently denied. The EC has reiterated its commitment to electoral purity, stating it aims to “ensure that no eligible citizen is left out of the electoral roll while also preventing ineligible persons from being included.”

The SIR, intended to cleanse voter rolls of ineligible entries ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, has become a flashpoint in the political arena. Opposition leaders contend it undermines electoral equity, potentially disenfranchising genuine voters.

Bihar’s polls are slated for two phases on November 6 and 11, with results to be announced on November 14. The elections will test the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar against a formidable challenge from the Opposition INDIA bloc, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and their allies.

As the Supreme Court deliberates, the controversy highlights growing tensions over the EC’s role in safeguarding democracy. Congress has demanded greater accountability, warning that opaque processes erode public trust in the electoral system. The outcome of the hearing could influence the final voter lists and shape the narrative of the high-stakes Bihar battle.