NEW DELHI: More than 65 lakh names were left out of Bihar’s draft electoral rolls, according to the Election Commission (EC), following a month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The EC said Patna alone accounts for the highest number of missing voters, with 3.95 lakh names not included, followed by East Champaran, Madhubani and Gopalganj with 3 lakh voters, news agency PTI reported. The new draft rolls were released on Friday, kicking off a process during which citizens can file claims and objections until 1 September.
The EC said Bihar had 7.93 crore registered voters before the SIR began in June, but no final tally for the revised rolls has been disclosed. According to EC data, 7.23 crore voters submitted enumeration forms during the exercise. Around 35 lakh were found to have permanently migrated or were untraceable, 22 lakh were reported dead, and 7 lakh were registered in more than one constituency. Another 1.2 lakh voters didn’t submit forms at all.The process involved 77,895 polling centres across the state, supervised by 243 Electors Registration Officers and nearly 3,000 assistant EROs. More than 1.60 lakh booth-level agents and other volunteers were involved in the data-gathering operation, which required voters to return signed enumeration forms along with identity documents, either physically or online.The EC has not published a consolidated statewide list, but voters can verify their status on the official website. District magistrates have shared draft rolls with political party representatives in districts such as Supaul, Nawada, Darbhanga, and Jamui. Assembly elections in Bihar are due later this year.The SIR has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who allege that the mass exclusions serve to benefit the ruling NDA. Petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, which remarked earlier this week that the exercise should result in “en masse inclusion and not en masse exclusion.”Meanwhile, Parliament witnessed heated scenes over the SIR issue. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Friday amid loud protests by opposition members demanding a discussion on the EC’s move. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed a “paramilitary takeover” after security personnel reportedly blocked MPs from entering the well of the House. Deputy chairman Harivansh denied requests for discussion, citing that the matter is sub judice, which only intensified the standoff.
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