Bihar SIR row: Congress says 89 lakh objections rejected, poll body cites law

Ahead of this year’s state assembly elections, the congress and the Election Commission are engaged in a verbal sparring match over the purported deletion of about 89 lakh names from Bihar’s voting records.

Congress district units have written to the polling organization to protest what they say are widespread voter name removals. In order to demonstrate “zero complaints,” senior Congress leader Pawan Khera accused officials of ignoring objections raised by Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

We submitted about 89 lakh objections through our BLAs, and our District Congress Committees transmitted them, but they were also denied. The Commission is creating excuses because it lacks a solid explanation. Khera informed Aaj Tak, “They are just not accepting our objections, even though we have followed due process.”

“This is not about the Election Commission, it is about Modi, who is taking out his vendetta in this country,” he said, accusing the problem of being political.

EC Cites Law, Vote Roll Due Process

The Election Commission rebutted the charge, stressing that voter additions and deletions must follow procedures laid down in the Representation of the People Act and the Constitution’s directive provisions. Names, it said, cannot be struck off or added “merely on the basis of letters” but require proper forms, evidence, and sworn declarations.

The Commission stated that objections must be lodged in the required format and submitted through BLAs chosen by political parties, together with affidavits under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, citing Rule 13 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

Additionally, it cited an August 22, 2025, Supreme Court interim decision that ordered 12 political parties to carefully adhere to the prescribed procedure for submitting objections to inaccuracies in draft rolls.

Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar, claimed that the Congress district units’ complaints were “just letters” devoid of affidavits or supporting documentation. “There is a deleting procedure. Those seeking removal must provide proof and a sworn declaration,” the CEO said.

ROLLS ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30

According to the Commission, more than 15 lakh applications have been received thus far for the ongoing special summary revision in Bihar. There were 7.24 crore names in the draft register that was released on August 1st, which was roughly 65 lakh fewer than the previous list. The final rolls are scheduled for publication on September 30, ahead of November’s state elections.

After verification, 40,630 applications had been processed by August 31. By September 1, 91,462 of the 16.56 lakh applications that were submitted for additions and deletions had been resolved.

A FEW APPLICATIONS FILED BY OTHER PARTIES

The procedure has also involved participation from other political parties. The CPI-ML submitted 15 applications for additions and 103 for deletions, while the RJD filed 10 for additions.

The Commission stated that district election officers must use their discretion, check the evidence, and make sure the statutory procedure is followed before considering any significant deletions, like the almost 89 lakh that Congress has requested.