Opposition Stages Protest in Bihar Assembly Over Electoral Roll Changes

Speedy Summary

• Opposition legislators in Bihar, led by RJD and Congress, protested for the second day against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls during the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly.
• The protests included wearing black attire, raising slogans at the Assembly entrance, and entering the well of the House with placards. Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav adjourned proceedings until lunch.
• Opposition leaders argued that voter deletion under SIR disproportionately affects poor communities and accused the Nitish Kumar-led government of “vote theft.”
• AIMIM joined protests, with its State president Akhtarul Iman warning that SIR could hurt Nitish Kumar’s prospects in upcoming elections set for October-November 2025.
• The Election Commission highlighted Bihar as India’s first state to achieve polling stations with fewer than 1,200 voters. It reported coverage of 96.23% voters while noting 5.56% were not found at registered addresses.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Opposition’s concerns over alleged voter disenfranchisement during an electoral roll revision underscore significant political tensions ahead of Bihar’s Assembly elections later this year. While ensuring more manageable polling station sizes signals improved administrative efficiency by ECI, allegations about disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities warrant closer scrutiny to preserve democratic inclusivity.The procedural transparency and accuracy of voter roll revisions become critical given their direct influence on election credibility. Continued protests signify potential challenges to governance stability in a politically diverse state like Bihar, highlighting broader debates over electoral fairness-a key issue for all stakeholders leading up to pivotal elections.

Read more: The Hindu