Patna: The opposition INDIA bloc staged statewide protests on Wednesday, calling for a ‘Bihar Bandh’ in response to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Protesters took to the streets and rail tracks across Bihar, denouncing what they termed as an “unjust” and “unfair” revision process. Congress workers blocked railway tracks at the Sachiwalay Halt station, where Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, joined them in raising slogans such as “Chunav Aayog hosh mein aayo” (“Election Commission, come to your senses”).
Speaking to the media, Yadav accused the Election Commission of undermining the rights of the poor. “We will not spare the Election Commission. They have destroyed the lives of poor people in this country,” he said.
Elsewhere, INDIA bloc leaders blocked roads and burned tyres on the Maner Assembly stretch of National Highway 30 in Patna district. RJD’s student wing also staged protests by obstructing train movement at the Jehanabad railway station.
Earlier, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav voiced serious concerns over the revision process, alleging that lakhs of voters could be disenfranchised due to the document requirements under the SIR. “There is no clarity from the Election Commission. The Bihar EC behaves like a post office — it can’t answer questions. People of Bihar mostly possess Aadhaar cards, MGNREGA job cards, or ration cards — not the 11 documents the EC is asking for. Those without these documents may lose their right to vote,” he warned.
Despite the backlash, the Election Commission maintained that the revision process is moving efficiently. As of 6:00 PM on July 8, the ECI reported collecting 3.70 crore Enumeration Forms, which accounts for 46.95% of the nearly 7.90 crore electors in Bihar.
According to officials, over 97% of the forms (7.70 crore) have already been distributed within the first 14 days since the SIR directive was issued on June 24. Additionally, 18.16% of the forms have been uploaded on ECINET, with a significant number of voters reportedly submitting the required documents along with the forms.
The ECI has assured that the Enumeration Form collection process is expected to be completed well before the final deadline.
