ECI Orders Massive Voter Roll Purge in Bihar, Sparks Fears of ‘NRC By Stealth’

Representative Image In a move that has triggered political tremors across Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered a sweeping voter roll purge in Bihar ahead of the crucial assembly elections this year. The directive, issued on July 24, instructs the Chief Electoral Officer to conduct a special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists, a process activists warn could become a blueprint for nationwide disenfranchisement.

The last such revision was carried out in 2003, but this time the rules are even stricter. Voters born before July 1, 1987, must furnish proof of their date and place of birth. Those born between July 1, 1987, and December 12, 2004, must provide the same for themselves and at least one parent. Alarmingly, voters born after December 12, 2004, will need to submit documents proving the birth details of both parents as well as themselves.

Door-to-Door Verification To Begin July 2

Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will begin door-to-door verification from July 2, meticulously checking birth and residence documents. New voters will be asked for proof of residence and date of birth when applying for voter IDs. BLOs will distribute enumeration forms to be filled and submitted on the spot. The revised rolls will be published on August 1, barely months before Bihar heads into a heated electoral contest.

Opposition: “ECI Becoming The Regime’s Tool”

Bihar Minister Shrawan Kumar defended the move, stating, “The Election Commission has always conducted elections impartially. Those making allegations are only exposing their own frustration and despair.”

But opposition parties remain sceptical. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari alleged, “This revision is aimed at adding fake voters while deleting genuine ones. It is a direct attack on democracy.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too raised concerns, having earlier written to the ECI regarding alleged irregularities during Maharashtra’s voter roll revision ahead of the 2024 elections. The Commission has offered him time for discussion, but trust in its impartiality remains low among opposition ranks.

Mamata Banerjee: ECI Must Act Independently

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, reacting sharply, said, “The ECI must act as an independent institution, not as a mouthpiece of the present regime.” She warned that while the exercise was starting in Bihar, its ripple effects would be felt far beyond.

Muslim Activists Warn of ‘NRC By Another Name’

Within Bihar’s Muslim community, anxiety is palpable. Activists have dubbed the exercise “NRC by stealth”, fearing it will disproportionately impact the poor and marginalised who often lack historical documents.

Mohammad Rashid, a community organiser in Patna, warned, “First Assam, now Bihar. Today it is voter lists, tomorrow it will be citizenship. This is a silent NRC creeping into our lives.”

Another activist, Fatima Parveen, said, “How many people in our villages have birth certificates of their parents? This is a way to erase us from the electoral system. They want our votes to disappear without a trace.”

Senior social worker Abdul Bari added chillingly, “This is not just a revision of rolls. This is a revision of the idea of who belongs in this country.”

A Routine Exercise or A Step Towards Disenfranchisement?

While the ECI maintains the revision is essential for maintaining the integrity of elections, critics warn that such moves could pave the way for mass disenfranchisement, similar to what was seen during the NRC process in Assam, where nearly two million people were left facing statelessness.

As BLOs prepare to knock on doors starting July 2, fear and uncertainty grip Bihar’s hinterlands. For many, the question now is stark: Is this voter roll purge in Bihar about electoral transparency, or a calculated attempt to redefine the Indian electorate itself?