Mahadangal: Bihar Voter List Verification Triggers Political Storm Ahead of Elections | ABP NEWS

In the run-up to the upcoming Assembly elections, the Election Commission initiated a voter list verification process in Bihar—the first such exercise since 2003. Beginning on June 25 and set to conclude by July 26, the move was aimed at updating the electoral rolls and eliminating bogus voters. The Commission cited Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to justify the decision. While the ruling NDA supported the verification as a step towards free and fair elections, opposition parties, especially RJD and Congress, expressed deep suspicion. They alleged that the process was politically motivated, aimed at deleting genuine voters—particularly from marginalized communities—under the pretext of transparency. RJD spokespersons argued that documents being asked for were not easily accessible to the poor, and questioned the timing of the drive, asking why it wasn’t conducted before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Debates on Mahadangal highlighted conflicting viewpoints. BJP supporters, like Ajay Alok, called the verification a form of “electoral audit” necessary for cleaning up the rolls. Meanwhile, opposition leaders such as Kanchana Yadav warned that conducting such a massive exercise in just three months using the same state machinery that conducts elections raises logistical and ethical questions. Importantly, the Commission clarified that only voters registered after 2003—around 2.94 crore people—need to submit documents, not the entire 7.9 crore electorate of Bihar. Still, fears remain that dual and migrant voters could face disenfranchisement. The political implications of this verification are likely to echo well beyond Bihar.

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