Will give copies of Bihar draft roll to all parties: EC ahead of publication

It assured contenders on Thursday that all recognised political parties in the state will receive physical as well as digital copies of the voters’ list draft in all 38 districts. All individuals and political parties will also get a month to submit applications for addition and removal of names in the draft roll.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Bihar and 243 electoral registration officers (EROs) would invite voters and political parties in Bihar to come forward and give claims and objections from August 1 to September 1, for adding names of any missing eligible elector, removing names of any ineligible elector or correction of any entry in the draft electoral rolls.

As per the poll panel’s findings, around 65 lakh voters face the possibility of their names getting deleted from the electoral roll of Bihar. It has been reported that around 36 lakh people had shifted permanently or were not found; seven lakh had enrolled themselves at multiple places and 22 lakh of the voters had passed away since the roll was last published.

The findings are likely to create fresh political uproar once the draft roll comes out on August 1.

Meanwhile, Kumar along with the other two Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on Thursday interacted with a delegation from Janata Dal (United), led by its general secretary and authorised representative Afaque Ahmad Khan.

The meeting was part of the poll body’s outreach with all political parties, which it has been undertaking since May this year. Under this exercise, the ECI has held interactions with representatives of 15 political parties, which include five national parties -- BJP, BSP, CPI(M), AAP and National People's Party (NPP).

These interactions provide for a long-felt need of constructive discussions which enable national and state party presidents to share their suggestions and concerns directly with the Commission. This initiative aligns with the Commission’s broader vision of further strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework with all stakeholders, it said in a statement.