The political arena is heated in Bihar as the assembly elections loom, with a significant focus on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly, has raised a banner of opposition against the Election Commission. He claims that the SIR is a facade and has accused it of being a strategic plot to remove names from the voter list.
By questioning the Election Commission's claim of more than 80% form completion, Tejashwi also highlights the need for verification of these submissions. He expresses concern that even a 1% reduction in voters could tilt the results of approximately three dozen seats. If even 1% of voters are left out or fail to submit documents, the consequence would be the removal of about 3,251 voter names in each legislative assembly.
The primary cause for apprehension among Tejashwi Yadav and opposition parties is the fear of voter name deletion. What fuels this concern?
Understanding the 1% Voter Concern
Bihar's voter list currently comprises a total of 790 million registered voters. If, after detailed scrutiny and verification, 1% of these names are removed, it equates to roughly 790,000 voters. With 243 assembly seats in Bihar, this means each seat could witness an exclusion of around 3,251 voters. Tejashwi Yadav’s worry about this 1% vote scenario is not unfounded.
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, tight races were observed where margins of victory in 40 constituencies were under 3,500 votes. JD(U)'s Krishnamurari Sharan alias Prem Mukhiya secured victory by just 12 votes in Hilsa, setting a precedent in close election margins within the state. RJD candidates, such as Sudhakar Singh, won by 189 votes, and constituencies like Dehri and Kuhedi saw victories by margins of 464 and 712 votes, respectively. Mahagathbandhan candidate Suryakant clinched Bakri by a mere 777 votes.
Why Raised Eyebrows Over Voter Verification and List Revisions?
The anxiety among opposition parties over potentially omitted voters is primarily related to constituencies with narrow victory margins. Nearly a dozen seats recorded triumph margins of less than a thousand votes, while about 60 seats saw differences hovering around 5,000 votes. Thus, political entities fear that adding or removing even 1% of voters could dramatically alter outcomes in around 60 Bihar Assembly seats.
Close Races Driving Tejashwi's Concerns?
There is speculation whether Tejashwi's apprehensions are centered only on the closely contested seats. Veteran journalist Omprakash Ashk suggests that his concerns extend beyond just those to also include areas like Seemanchal and Mithilanchal (adjacent to the Nepal border), which have historically bolstered RJD's voter base due to their Yadav-Muslim demographic mix. The issues in the SIR, such as claims of non-citizens being listed as voters, may intensify fears of losing core voters.
Tejashwi's Remarks on SIR
Tejashwi Yadav has stated that many voter forms have been filled without voters' acknowledgment or understanding. Both voters and BLOs are reportedly confused about the process. He inquires whether there is an underlying target by top BJP figures and Nitish Kumar to delete 10 to 50 names per booth. Tejashwi asserts that for each wrongly removed vote, the accountability will fall on the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Chief Minister.
