Tejashwi Yadav writes to Rahul, Kharge, Mamata, and Akhilesh on Bihar voter list revision, warns of large-scale disenfranchisement.
Photo Credit The Suncity News
Patna, July 19, 2025: Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Friday wrote letters to 35 prominent opposition leaders including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav, and J&K CM Omar Abdullah, raising serious concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list currently underway in Bihar.
Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the ongoing SIR is “shaking the very foundation of democracy through large-scale disenfranchisement” and accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of eroding public trust in the electoral process.
“Every person in this country, irrespective of their background or status, is proud of their vote. The ability to participate in the governance of the country is deeply empowering,” he wrote.
Tejashwi Yadav claimed lakhs of voters are being disenfranchised due to SIR:
Tejashwi Yadav claimed that lakhs of voters are being disempowered and humiliated without fault, citing the ECI’s press note dated 16 July 2025, which stated that 4.5% of the population was removed as “electors not found at their addresses” in addition to 4% marked as “probably deceased or permanently shifted.”
According to him, journalists and political scientists observing the process estimate disenfranchisement to be 12-15%, an unprecedented scale in the country’s history.
He also questioned the timing of the revision exercise, alleging it was “suspect,” and accused the ECI of conducting the process in a haphazard, high-handed, and non-transparent manner, while targeting those demanding accountability.
“They are making and breaking their rules on the fly. Worse, they are targeting anyone and everyone who is demanding transparency and accountability,” he stated.
Tejashwi Yadav alleged the same had happened in the Maharashtra polls:
Referring to the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections, Tejashwi said the concerns over voter list integrity are still fresh, and if not resisted strongly now, similar disenfranchisement will be carried out in other states.
“The constitution demands that we defend the republic. We should not be found wanting at this historical juncture,” he urged.
Tejashwi Yadav’s letter comes amid growing tension in Bihar’s politics, alleging attempts to manipulate the electoral roll ahead of assembly elections, while the Election Commission has defended the SIR as a part of routine voter list maintenance.
EOM.