The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections have been pivotal in the state’s political landscape, following the National Democratic Alliance’s victory. A significant event leading up to the polls was the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, resulting in the removal of over 65 lakh voters and the addition of around 24 lakh new voters. Conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the exercise aimed to ensure the accuracy of voter lists with the assistance of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and political party agents.
The SIR exercise, though termed routine by the ECI, sparked a political uproar. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, accused the ECI and ruling parties of “vote theft,” alleging that the voter deletions disproportionately affected marginalized communities. In contrast, NDA leaders defended the exercise, citing the need to identify illegal infiltrators, particularly from Bangladesh and Rohingya Muslim communities. Despite opposition claims, the ECI did not mention infiltrators in its Supreme Court affidavit.
The NDA’s focus on illegal infiltration during election rallies, accusing the Opposition of shielding infiltrators, became a central campaign theme. In response, the Opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, organized a “Voter Adhikar Yatra” to raise awareness about alleged irregularities in the SIR process. The elections also highlighted the contrast between NDA unity and Grand Alliance discord, with seat-sharing disputes impacting the opposition’s electoral prospects.
