PATNA — The ongoing revision of voter lists in Bihar has sparked intense controversy and accusations from opposition parties, who claim the process deliberately targets Muslim voters in border districts, potentially skewing the upcoming assembly elections in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Opposition groups have charged the Election Commission with systematically deleting thousands of names of Muslim residents in four key border districts of Bihar — areas known for their significant Muslim populations and where support for BJP has traditionally been low. Critics say this move is a calculated attempt to strengthen the ruling party’s chances in the tightly contested state elections.
However, the Election Commission and BJP representatives have firmly denied these allegations. They argue that the revision process, known as the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls, is a routine exercise aimed at cleansing the voter lists of ineligible entries. No data has been released to show the religious breakdown of removed voters, making independent verification of claims difficult.
A survey conducted by Hindustan Times revealed that Kushinganj district, which has the largest Muslim population in Bihar, experienced the highest rate of voter removal. Yet, the pattern was not consistent in other Muslim-majority areas, leaving the issue open to debate.
Opposition leaders have strongly condemned the voter revision process, describing it as a threat to the democratic rights of millions. Protesters gathered outside Parliament chanting slogans such as ‘Modi Murdabad’, ‘Take back SIR’, and ‘Stop vote theft’, reflecting widespread anger and suspicion.
Jagdeep Chokar, spokesperson for the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), cautioned that the SSR process risks disenfranchising many genuine voters. He told the BBC, ‘This process is happening just three months before assembly elections and not enough time has been given to complete it.’ Chokar added, ‘The reports clearly show irregularities and serious errors in data collection.’
He explained that the SSR requires voters to submit documentation proving their citizenship not only for themselves but also for their parents within a very short timeframe. For many poor labourers and backward communities, including a large number of Muslims in Bihar, fulfilling these demands is extremely difficult, leaving them vulnerable to removal from voter lists.
The political divide over the SSR is pronounced. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), a major opposition party, alleges that the process is a targeted attempt to disenfranchise Muslim voters in border areas who have not traditionally supported the BJP.
RJD General Secretary Shivanand Tiwari criticised the Election Commission, stating, ‘The commission is biased and manipulating the elections. They are deliberately removing Muslim voters to favour the BJP.’
In contrast, BJP representatives reject claims of religious bias. Bhim Singh, speaking for the BJP, argued, ‘Only Indian citizens have the right to vote, and many Rohingyas and Bangladeshis have settled in the border areas in recent years who need to be removed from the list.’ He accused the opposition of raising the issue out of fear of electoral defeat.
The SSR exercise has raised alarm among activists and political observers who fear the process might undermine the rights of legitimate voters, especially from marginalised communities. The timing of the revision, close to state elections, and the heavy documentary requirements have been criticised as unfair hurdles.
As the controversy grows, calls for a transparent parliamentary debate on the SSR process and greater safeguards for voter rights have intensified. Many urge the Election Commission to release detailed data on voter deletions to ensure accountability and uphold the principles of a fair electoral process.
Muslim voters in Bihar’s border districts watch the developments with anxiety, fearing exclusion from the democratic process in a country that prides itself on its secular and inclusive constitution.
