Strong objections raised by Congress against the electoral roll revision ahead of Bihar Assembly elections.
The Congress Working Committee has characterized the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar as the “greatest threat” to the country’s democracy. During a recent meeting in Patna, the committee expressed concerns that this electoral exercise is a calculated move by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to maintain its grip on power.
Alleging that the revision is designed to disenfranchise marginalized communities, Congress claimed that this tactic could lead to the systematic erosion of voting rights, which would consequently impact access to welfare schemes and reservations for these groups. The party described the voter roll revision as yet another “dirty trick” from the BJP’s “toolkit” aimed at manipulating electoral processes.
This meeting, chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, marked the first gathering of the Congress Working Committee in Bihar since 1940. Key figures, including Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and Ajay Maken, were present. The timing of the meeting is significant, as it precedes the anticipated Assembly elections in Bihar, expected to take place in October or November.
The resolutions passed during the meeting included a statement that cited large-scale vote theft and irregularities in electoral rolls as factors that have undermined public confidence in the democratic process. This statement alluded to allegations previously made by Gandhi regarding vote theft in Karnataka and Maharashtra, claims which the Election Commission has dismissed.
Congress’s resolution asserted that electoral fraud highlights a “systematic and deliberate conspiracy” by the BJP to create an artificially manufactured majority in elections. It emphasized that a government formed through such illegitimate means lacks moral and political legitimacy. The party further argued that a regime built on deceit and manipulation is unaccountable to the public, resulting in neglect of pressing issues such as unemployment, farmer suicides, inflation, and the deterioration of essential services.
In an appeal directed at voters in Bihar, Congress urged them to recognize the importance of their votes. The party committed to continuing its struggle for the protection of constitutional rights, social justice, and equitable access to welfare benefits for all citizens. It also criticized the current Union government’s handling of the economy, claiming it has caused significant economic turmoil while attempting to project a false image of prosperity.
During the meeting, Kharge noted the visible internal discord within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, suggesting that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has become a liability for the coalition. He stated that the people of Bihar desire a politics focused on development rather than religious polarization, calling for fundamental solutions to issues such as employment and good governance.
The electoral roll revision process was announced by the Election Commission on June 24, requiring individuals whose names were absent from the 2003 voter list to provide proof of eligibility. The deadline for claims and objections was set for September 1, with the final list to be published by September 30. Concerns have emerged regarding the potential disenfranchisement of voters, as the draft electoral roll released on August 1 indicated that approximately 65.6 lakh names were removed. The Election Commission has defended the revision as a necessary clean-up to eliminate deceased individuals, duplicate entries, and undocumented migrants ahead of the elections.
Recent Supreme Court directions have allowed the use of Aadhaar cards as valid identification for this electoral revision, addressing concerns raised by petitioners regarding its exclusion from the list of permissible documents.
