On Saturday, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav claimed that his name was missing from the draft voter list for the upcoming Bihar elections published by the Election Commission on Friday. Addressing a press conference in Patna, Tejashwi expressed his concerns saying, 'I completed the Enumeration Form during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar. However, my name is not mentioned in the draft voter list. How do I contest the upcoming assembly elections?' Tejashwi Yadav further disclosed that when he searched his ECIP (Electors Photo Identity Card) No. RAB2916120 on the Election Commission’s portal, it returned 'No Records Found'.
However, the Election Commission quickly fact-checked Tejashwi Yadav's claims and confirmed that his name is indeed in the draft voter list. The commission released a version of the voter list showing his name, photo, age, father's name, and house number. Responding to RJD leader’s allegations, the Election Commission promptly shared data clarifying, 'Tejashwi Yadav alleged that his name was struck from the list. We have shared the list and request him to carefully check his details.' The records shared by the commission showed Tejashwi Yadav’s ECIP No. RAB0456228. His name appears at serial number 416 in the draft voter list.
Source: aajtak
Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary Criticizes Tejashwi Yadav
Following the Election Commission's fact-checking on Tejashwi Yadav's claim, BJP leader and Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary took a dig at him. 'Tejashwi, it appears searching for your name in the draft voter list is quite challenging for you. Your name, respectfully along with your father's, is listed. Please stop your misleading antics. RJD's illusions are consistently proving to be baseless,' he remarked.
Voter Registration Open Until September 1, 2025
Querying how he will run for elections now, Tejashwi Yadav questioned. According to the Election Commission, the SIR process in Bihar will conclude with the publishing of the final voter list on September 1, 2025. This means the draft voter list uploaded by the commission is not final. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar assured that all voters and political parties in Bihar would be invited to register claims and objections on the revised voter list from August 1 to September 1.
The CEC announced that Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the 243 assembly constituencies' Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) would invite voter and political party claims and objections about additions, deletions, and modifications to the draft voter list from August 1 to September 1. Even if Tejashwi Yadav’s name was genuinely missing from the voting list, he would have two months to rectify it.
65 Lakh Names to be Removed from Bihar Voter List
The final voter list will be published on September 30, following the SIR process that commenced in Bihar on June 24. A press note from the Election Commission dated July 27 stated that 91.69% of voters listed in Bihar had submitted their enumeration forms and would be included in the draft published on August 1. The commission reported that by June 24, 2025, over 7.24 crore out of 7.89 crore registered voters submitted enumeration forms, evidencing significant public participation in the SIR process. Consequently, 65 lakh voters will not appear in the August 1 draft. Among reasons for absence in the voter list include the voter’s death, permanent relocation, and registration at multiple locations.
