New Delhi/Patna July 2: Amid an escalating face-off between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and opposition parties, including the RJD and TMC, over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls, the poll panel on Wednesday questioned the absence of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav from a scheduled meeting.
ECI sources confirmed that Yadav was formally invited on June 30 to discuss concerns regarding the SIR exercise but did not attend. “If the matter is of such critical importance to the party, people are asking why the national president himself chose not to appear before the Commission,” a senior EC official said.
Instead, the Commission is set to meet two authorised RJD representatives later today, both approved by the party’s national president.
Officials clarified that the ECI will proceed with interactions only with officially designated party delegates. “We will meet those who are authorised to speak for their parties. That has been our consistent position,” the official added.
The EC is also scheduled to hold discussions today with representatives from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) over similar concerns about the electoral roll revision process in Bihar.
The issue has become politically charged, with parties like the RJD and TMC alleging irregularities in the SIR exercise, which is aimed at updating voter rolls ahead of upcoming elections in the state.
Further confusion emerged when the ECI earlier invited a person claiming to represent the Congress party and other political outfits for a meeting on July 2. However, no formal confirmation was received from the Congress, prompting the Commission to defer the session.
The EC’s decision to press for clarity on Lalu Yadav’s non-participation underscores the growing political friction around the Bihar electoral roll revision, with questions mounting over transparency, representation, and procedural fairness.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a process undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to thoroughly update, verify, and revise the voter lists in a state. This includes: Adding eligible voters who are not yet on the rolls. Removing names of deceased or ineligible voters. Correcting errors in names, addresses, or other voter details. Ensuring no duplication or manipulation.
The “row” refers to the political standoff and allegations made by opposition parties — particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) — that the process is being manipulated or carried out unfairly. They claim:
- The revision is politically motivated.
- Certain communities or regions are being selectively targeted or excluded.
- The timing and method of the SIR are suspicious, especially with upcoming elections in mind.
The Election Commission has defended the exercise as routine and impartial, but tensions have escalated due to lack of consensus and refusal by some party leaders — such as RJD chief Lalu Yadav — to engage with the Commission directly, despite being invited.
