INDIA Bloc Demands Debate on Bihar Voter Rolls

• The INDIA bloc, led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, has demanded an urgent parliamentary debate on the Bihar voter roll revision.
• Kharge accused the government of manipulating the electoral system, claiming that 65 lakh voters were left out of the draft list, including Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities.
• The Election Commission has defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) as a mandatory, constitutional measure to ensure voter list integrity by removing deceased, shifted, and duplicate entries.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th Aug: A fresh political flashpoint has emerged in Parliament as the INDIA bloc, led by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded an urgent debate on the revision of the Bihar voter rolls. Kharge, citing a previous remark by former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar that “anything can be discussed in the House,” accused the government of manipulating the electoral system.

In a letter addressed to Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Kharge requested an immediate discussion on the issue, which he said was of “paramount concern to crores of voters, especially those belonging to the weaker sections of the society.”

The controversy stems from the draft electoral rolls, known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), published on August 1 by the Election Commission (EC). The draft lists 7.24 crore electors out of the existing 7.89 crore, leaving out approximately 65 lakh voters. According to EC data, this number includes 22 lakh deceased electors, 36 lakh who had permanently shifted, and 7 lakh with duplicate registrations.

At a press conference, Kharge criticized the government’s actions, stating, “The government is manipulating the electoral system according to its own convenience. In Maharashtra, a huge number of voters were added, while in Bihar, names are being deleted… This is a clear attempt to doubt the citizenship of these people.”

He added that the government had adopted “unconstitutional means to implement SIR” and was now denying the opposition an opportunity to debate. Congress leader KC Venugopal echoed the sentiment, announcing that the INDIA bloc would march to the Election Commission office on August 11 to demand answers.

Members of the INDIA bloc held a protest march inside Parliament premises this morning, holding a banner that read “discussion not deletion” and calling for a withdrawal of the SIR.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has defended the revision as a necessary constitutional measure to ensure the integrity of voter lists. It maintains that the process, which includes a claims-and-objections period, is transparent and essential for removing ineligible entries while including eligible citizens.