Poll panel starts revision of electoral rolls in Bihar

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“Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has started successfully in Bihar for verifying the eligibility of each elector with full participation of all political parties,” the ECI said in a statement.

Around 2.93 crore of 7.89 crore voters in Bihar will have to provide proof of their eligibility as voters during the ongoing SIR of rolls.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’ Brien said the exercise was a “sinister move to bring the National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the backdoor”.

Questioning the timing of the drive, the Trinamool Congress said the INDIA bloc would take up the matter both inside and outside Parliament.

“We have evidence as to why it is being done now. It is because the latest internal survey of the BJP for Bengal shows 46-49 seats for party in the Assembly poll, scheduled early next year. In their desperation to attempt to change things, you do such things,” he claimed.

On Friday, the CPI (M) had written to the EC on the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, urging it to abandon the exercise.

EC officials said the exercise was being undertaken as per provisions of the Representation of People Act 1950.

“There is no problem behind asking voters’ proof of birth or place of birth as every person today has valid document. Even the poor receive benefits like free ration and financial benefits electronically, thus showing that they have valid identification documents. The political objection to the SIR seems unreasonable,” the poll body sources said.

Defending the exercise, the EC said, “The Constitution is supreme. All citizens, political parties and the EC follow the Constitution. Article 326 specifies eligibility to become an elector. Only Indian citizens, above 18 years and ordinary residents in that constituency, are eligible.”

The last intensive revision for Bihar was conducted in 2003.

The EC on June 24 had issued instructions to carry out the SIR in Bihar to weed out ineligible names and ensure all eligible citizens are included in the electoral roll, allowing them to exercise their franchise in the polls slated later this year.

“Out of the existing 7,89,69,844 electors, 4.96 crore electors, whose names are already in the last intensive revision of electoral roll on January 1, 2003, have to simply verify, fill the Enumeration Form and submit it,” the EC statement said.

Voters who have their names in the 2003 electoral rolls would not need to attach any additional document along with the Enumeration Form, except the extract of the roll as their eligibility as a voter was establishing their eligibility.

While 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are already in place, the poll body said it was appointing 20,603 more BLOs for new polling stations to carry out the exercise in Bihar, the statement added.

Over 1 lakh volunteers would be assisting electors, especially elderly, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), poor and other vulnerable groups during the SIR.

All recognised national and state parties registered with the EC have already appointed 1,54,977 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) with the poll panel saying that the parties can still appoint more BLAs.

Printing as well as door-to-door distribution of new Enumeration Forms for all existing 7,89,69,844 electors has already started in each of the 243 Assembly segments of Bihar, the statement said.

Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates were engaging all BLOs full time during the SIR and SMS were also being sent on 5,74,07,022 registered mobile numbers, it informed.