Nine days since Bihar draft roll issued: Over 7,000 individuals, but no party, file objections

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday said that since the Bihar draft voter list was published nine days ago on August 1, no political party has approached it for inclusion or deletion of names of individuals from the rolls.

The draft roll will be available till September 1 for claims and objections under which parties and individuals can seek inclusion of eligible citizens left out and exclusion of those they believe are ineligible.

EC said between August 1 and August 9 (Saturday), no booth-level agent appointed by parties has approached poll authorities in the claims and objections procedure.

On the other hand, 7,252 individuals have approached it for inclusion or deletion of names from the draft voters’ list.

“The Election Commission is repeatedly stating that no eligible elector is to be left out and no ineligible elector is to be included in the final electoral roll of Bihar.

“Submit your claims and objections to rectify any errors in the draft roll of Bihar,” a functionary said.

After nine days, too, not even a single claim or objection has been submitted by any political party, the functionary pointed out.

The draft list is part of the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter list of Bihar by EC, which is facing protests from the opposition parties as they claim the exercise will deny many eligible citizens their voting rights for want of documents.

Seeking debate on the issue, the opposition protests have been leading to stalling of both Houses of Parliament since the Monsoon session began on July 21.

EC has asserted that no eligible citizen will be left out of the electoral rolls.

The final electoral roll will be published on September 30.