CEC Gyanesh Kumar Defends Special Voter Roll Revision in Bihar Amid Fierce Opposition Alleging Backdoor NRC Agenda

As political tensions mount in the lead-up to the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for November, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has asserted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is maintaining an open and consultative approach with all political stakeholders.

 

Kumar’s defense came in the backdrop of growing resistance from several opposition parties who have questioned the timing, intention, and implications of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.

 

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official function in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, Kumar emphasized that the Election Commission has held “regular and structured dialogues” with political parties across the spectrum during the implementation of the SIR process.

 

“In the last four months, we have ensured engagement with all stakeholders, right from the assembly constituency level to the district level, and even with state chief electoral officers,” he said.

 

According to Kumar, over 5,000 meetings were held, involving more than 28,000 participants, including leaders from five national and four recognized state parties.

 

Supreme Court Challenge and Accusations of NRC via the Backdoor

Despite the Election Commission’s assertions of transparency and broad-based consultation, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a leading election watchdog, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the very basis and execution of the revision exercise.

 

The timing of Kumar’s statement coincided with ADR’s legal move, underscoring the seriousness with which civil society groups and opposition parties are viewing the issue.

 

The Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), and CPI-ML-Liberation have all come out strongly against the EC’s decision to use the January 1, 200,3, electoral roll as the baseline for verification.

 

They allege that this is a veiled attempt by the ruling BJP government at the Centre to reintroduce the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC) process through the backdoor, and that the EC is being used as a facilitator in this effort.

 

Trinamool Congress, echoing the sentiments of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressed alarm that millions could face disenfranchisement under the guise of electoral reform.

 

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the party said: “This NRC-like move threatens the integrity of our electoral process and risks disenfranchising millions. BJP’s habitual misuse of institutions like the EC to rig the system in Opposition-ruled states will not go unchallenged.”

Eligibility Criteria and Public Concerns

CEC Gyanesh Kumar clarified that under Article 326 of the Indian Constitution, voters whose names were already present in the January 1, 20,0,3, electoral roll will be considered eligible from the outset.

 

This, he emphasized, streamlines the process for a large segment of the electorate and should not be a cause for concern.

According to data from the EC, Bihar has over 7.89 crore registered voters.

 

Of these, approximately 4.96 crore voters (roughly 60 percent of the electorate) are already listed in the 2003 voter roll and would not be required to furnish any further proof to establish their eligibility.

 

However, it is the remaining 40 percent—around 2.93 crore voters—who are now at the center of a growing political and public storm.

 

These individuals, many of them from marginalized and economically weaker sections, are being asked to provide at least one of 11 prescribed documents to verify either their place or date of birth.

 

Critics argue that this requirement could potentially disenfranchise lakhs of eligible voters who may not possess such documents, especially those in rural and underserved communities.

 

The EC has announced plans to upload the 2003 electoral rolls online to allow the 4.96 crore voters easy access to their records. They can then attach the relevant extract to the new enumeration form being distributed for the SIR.

 

The Chief Electoral Officer in Bihar has already begun the groundwork for implementing the updated enumeration process.

 

Strong Opposition from Bihar’s Political Landscape

The revision exercise has ignited a firestorm of opposition in Bihar, particularly from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which is leading the charge against what it calls an unjust, politically motivated, and discriminatory process.

 

Former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, speaking at the RJD’s national council meeting in Patna’s Bapu Sabhaghar auditorium, made an emotional appeal to voters.

 

“I advise all Biharis: do not show any documents other than your voter ID card to any EC officials. This is a conspiracy by the Centre and the state government to strip the poor of their right to vote,” she said.

 

She accused both governments of selling out the country and attempting to manipulate the electoral process just three months before a crucial election.

 

Rabri Devi further questioned the sudden urgency behind the EC’s decision. “The last such intensive revision happened over 20 years ago.

 

Prime Minister Modi has been in power for 11 years, and there was no talk of such an exercise until now. Why this sudden rush to complete it in just one month?”

 

She raised a critical and humane concern: “Many people have lost their parents or guardians long ago.

 

How are they expected to produce birth certificates or proof of ancestry in such a short timeframe? This is unjust and unworkable.”

A Divisive Political Flashpoint

The issue of electoral roll revision has now become a full-blown political flashpoint, with parties like the Congress, CPI-ML, and Trinamool Congress accusing the BJP of attempting to engineer the voter list in its favor by eliminating segments of the population less likely to support it.

The Trinamool Congress has demanded that 2024, not 2003, be used as the reference year for electoral eligibility. It has also asked the Supreme Court to expedite hearings on petitions against the EC’s drive to ensure that the electoral process remains inclusive, fair, and transparent.

EC’s Response and the Road Ahead

While Gyanesh Kumar has reiterated that voters remain the most crucial part of the democratic process, he also stated that political parties are “the most important stakeholders after voters” and that their concerns are being listened to.

 

“If issues are raised, all-party delegations are always welcome, and we remain ready to engage with them,” he said.

 

However, given the widespread skepticism, legal challenges, and emotional appeals from opposition leaders, the coming weeks are likely to witness increased scrutiny of the EC’s actions, both in courtrooms and on the streets.

 

What was initially presented as a procedural and administrative update to the voter list has now ballooned into a national debate on the nature of India’s democracy, the sanctity of its institutions, and the rights of its most vulnerable citizens.

 

As Bihar inches closer to the polls, the special intensive revision of electoral rolls could very well shape not just the outcome of the state election, but also the tone of political discourse in the months ahead.

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