Patna, July 10, 2025: Following the Supreme Court’s interim observations on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar, CPI-ML national General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has welcomed the court’s direction but expressed continued concerns regarding the Election Commission’s (EC) approach.
In a written statement, Dipankar Bhattacharya said: “The Supreme Court in its order has taken note of the fundamental constitutional and legal anomalies underlying the EC’s sudden SIR campaign in Bihar and the logistical inconveniences faced by voters. The SC advice to the EC to include Aadhar, voter card, and ration card in the acceptable documents list, in the interest of justice, voices the common demand of every voter.”
Dipankar Bhattacharya raised two points for SC consideration:
However, Dipankar Bhattacharya highlighted two pressing concerns still faced by the voters during the Sir drive.
The first is non-receipt of knowledgement receipt after submitting forms, leaving voters without proof of submission despite the RC’s claims of smooth progress and the second is difficulties in obtaining domicile and caste certificates, forcing many to rely on ERO’s discretionary ‘local investigations,’ raising fears of arbitrary deletions and inclusions in the final rolls.
“The number of voters unable to provide any document from the current list could be around 10,000 per constituency. Leaving these decisions solely to EROs without transparency paves the way for biased and inaccurate deletions,” Bhattacharya warned.
He emphasized that migrant workers and those out of state are particularly vulnerable to disenfranchisement and highlighted the anxiety among voters, as reflected in the widespread participation in the recent Bihar Bandh and Chakka Jam protests.
“The people of Bihar are becoming aware of the danger of disenfranchisement and are ready to fight hard to defend their constitutional right to vote,” Dipankar added.
RJD welcomes the order, terms it as vindication of the INDIA Alliance’s stand:
RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed said that the Supreme Court’s directions align with the demands repeatedly raised by Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and the INDIA alliance. “Why were Aadhar, ration card, and voter ID excluded from the special voter revision process in the first place? The SC has rightly questioned the EC’s stand.
The court also clarified that the Election Commission cannot question anyone’s citizenship; that is the Home Ministry’s jurisdiction under judicial process,” Ahmed stated.
“The RJD leader claimed that the Supreme Court’s intervention had foiled the BJP’s “conspiracy to snatch voting rights” of the poor, Dalits, tribals, minorities, and backward communities in Bihar. The election commission is also exposed now,” said Chittranjan Gagan, another spokesperson of RJD.
“All the people of Bihar have heaved a sigh of relief. The court’s order has protected the constitutional guarantee of voting rights and stopped the BJP’s attempts to weaken democracy,” Gagan added.
Also Read: Dipankar Bhattacharya slammed police action on Palestinian flag wavers.
EOM.