EC survey finds many from Nepal, Bangladesh & Myanmar  

Amid the Opposition's allegation that the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is an exercise to disenfranchise poor, migrant and Dalit voters, the Election Commission (EC) has claimed that a large number of people from Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar have been found by booth level officers (BLOs) during their house visits under the exercise. 

EC sources said a thorough inquiry would be conducted into the background of such people and their names would not be included in the final list of rolls that will be published on September 30. They further said the inquiry would be conducted after August 1, the date when the draft roll will be released.

Reacting to the development, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "We have seen many elections, including in 2014, 2019 and 2024. We lost by 3-4 lakh votes. Does that mean all these foreigners voted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi? It means that the NDA is at fault. It also means that it won by fraud. SIR is an eyewash and the EC is working as a cell of a political party."

Counterattacking the Opposition, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said, "Instead of ensuring the voting rights of Biharis, the RJD and the Congress are advocating the rights of outsiders. They want that foreigners get the right to vote over the genuine voters of Bihar. The two dynasts (referring to Tejashwi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi) during their days at the Centre had allowed illegal immigrants to settle in India, but now they are being weeded out."

Under SIR, voters can submit their enumeration forms with documents proving their citizenship and date of birth till July 25. If someone cannot provide documents by July 25, they have the option of submitting the documents between August 1 and August 30, the last date of filing claims and objections.

To get included in the draft roll to be published on August 1, one has to submit the enumeration form. Those who submit the enumeration forms without documents will have to submit by August 30 to get included in the final list.