Uproar Over Voter List Ahead of Bihar Assembly Elections, Owaisi Questions Election Commission’s Process

Bihar (The Uttam Hindu) : As Bihar gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, controversy has erupted over the process of updating the voter list. Several political parties and public figures have raised concerns regarding the Election Commission's (EC) handling of the revision, with multiple petitions now filed in the Supreme Court. Among those voicing objections is AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who recently met with the Chief Election Commissioner to express his party’s discontent.

Owaisi Slams Voter List Update Process

After his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, Owaisi addressed the media, criticizing the lack of transparency and coordination with national political parties during the revision process. He pointed out that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have not been adequately trained and lack essential handbooks required to carry out their duties effectively.

Raising pointed questions, Owaisi asked, “Why isn’t the 2024 voter list being used as the base? Why are voters who cast their vote just last year now being asked to provide identity proof again?” He also criticized the limited time provided for the update process and warned it could result in large-scale voter exclusions. AIMIM leader Akhtarul Iman echoed Owaisi's concerns, particularly highlighting the plight of migrant workers who may not have access to proper documentation and could lose their right to vote.

Supreme Court Steps In

The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the matter and scheduled a hearing for July 10, 2025. Notices have been issued to the Election Commission in response to five separate petitions filed against the ongoing voter list revision.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) is among the petitioners, along with public figures such as Yogendra Yadav, Mahua Moitra, Manoj Jha, and Mujahid Alam. The petitions argue that the EC’s actions are arbitrary and threaten the integrity of free and fair elections. They warn that the special revision campaign could lead to the deletion of lakhs of names from the electoral roll, which could have serious implications for electoral fairness.