According to data issued by the ECI on July 24, 2025, a substantial number of individuals may not feature in Bihar’s upcoming draft electoral roll, scheduled for publication on August 1. The ECI reports that forms from 7.21 crore electors (91.32%) have been received and digitised, ensuring their inclusion in the draft roll. The remaining forms are also undergoing digitisation to facilitate verification during the claims and objections period.
However, the ECI’s figures also highlight a large number of electors identified for potential exclusion. These includes, 21.6 lakh deceased electors, 31.5 lakh electors who have permanently migrated, 7 lakh electors found to be registered at more than one location, 1 lakh electors categorised as “untraceable.” Fewer than 7 lakh electors whose forms have not yet been received despite door-to-door visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth Level Agents (BLAs).
Combined, these figures suggest that over 61 lakh voters could potentially be excluded from the draft electoral roll. The ECI maintains that the primary aim of the Bihar SIR is to ensure no eligible voter is left out while ineligible names are removed, asserting its constitutional mandate to protect the integrity of electoral rolls.
To this end, booth-level lists of those who haven’t filled forms, deceased, and permanently migrated electors were shared with all political parties on July 20, 2025, for error verification. Furthermore, electors and political parties have until September 1, 2025, to file claims for missing names or raise objections to incorrect inclusions.
This latest data from the ECI comes amidst intense political backlash and growing concerns. Just yesterday, July 24, reports highlighted a shocking 809% surge in “untraceable” electors in Bihar, jumping from 11,484 on July 22 to 1 lakh by July 23. Overall deletions had also dramatically increased by 3 lakhs in just 24 hours, reaching 56 lakhs by July 23. Opposition parties, led by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, have threatened to boycott the upcoming state polls, alleging that the SIR is a “sinister plot” by the Modi government to disenfranchise marginalised communities and manipulate electoral outcomes.
ECI’s press note dated 24.07.2025 can be read here:
INDIA Bloc protests, Kharge dramatically tears symbolic SIR document and placed in dustbin
The political climate in Parliament became strained as the INDIA bloc maintained its protests for a third consecutive day at outside the parliament. The bloc expressed strong disapproval of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar. Members of Parliament from the opposition parties conducted a demonstration outside Parliament, conveying their opposition to what they characterise as an attempt to alter voter lists. Their protest commenced with a march from Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar. The opposition has voiced concerns that this process in Bihar could precede a broader effort concerning voter registration nationwide.
The INDIA bloc MPs staged a protest outside Parliament premises, expressing strong objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being undertaken by the Election Commission of India in Bihar.
📍New Delhi pic.twitter.com/YPtOsRql1x
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 25, 2025
During the INDIA bloc’s protest, Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, tore up a symbolic SIR document and placed it in a dustbin. This action, which was widely observed, represented the opposition’s rejection of the ECI’s plans for voter list revisions.
Kharge openly challenged the ECI’s proposed nationwide SIR, referencing its notification dated June 24. He criticised the government, stating, “The Modi government’s aim is to hinder the voting participation of the poor, Dalits, tribals, backward classes, minorities, and the disadvantaged, in order to modify the Constitution of India in accordance with the Manusmriti.”
🎥 | LoP in Rajya Sabha, #MallikarjunKharge, symbolically tears up the #SIR and throws it into a dustbin during the INDIA bloc’s protest on the Parliament premises.#Parliament #MonsoonSession2025 #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/rydRLJ7FGB
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) July 25, 2025
He further elaborated, “The RSS-BJP has always wanted to deprive the weaker sections of society of their voting rights, and now, through the use of SIR, it is determined to fulfil its long-standing intention.”
The Congress President expressed profound disappointment, stating, “It is deeply unfortunate that a constitutional institution like the Election Commission is supporting the BJP-RSS in this conspiracy of ‘vote suppression.” He brought to light alleged ground realities, claiming, “The entire country has seen how, in Bihar, the Election Commission’s BLOs are making their own people fill out forms to strip the deprived sections of society of their voting rights.”
Kharge warned of a broader implication, asserting, “Now, the Election Commission will carry out this same task across the entire country. The BJP has an aversion to the Constitution of India and democracy. Every day, it devises new ways to attack the Constitution created by Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar and Pandit Nehru.”
चुनाव आयोग ने आज आधिकारिक एलान किया है कि वह Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Exercise पूरे देश में लागू करेगा।
मोदी सरकार ग़रीबों, दलितों, आदिवासियों, पिछड़े वर्ग, अल्पसंख्यकों और वंचितों के वोट काटना चाहती है, ताकि वो भारत के संविधान को मनुस्मृति के मुताबिक बदलाव कर सके।… pic.twitter.com/wGjYXIADGL
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 25, 2025
Amidst the storm of protests and accusations, the Election Commission of India’s June 24 order on the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls stands as a crucial point of contention. In its order, the ECI explicitly stated, “Commission has now decided to begin the Special Intensive Revision in the entire country for the discharge of its constitutional mandate to protect the integrity of electoral rolls…The schedule for SIR in the rest of the country will be issued in due course.”
“100% solid proof of vote theft!” – Rahul Gandhi
The Congress MP and Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, entering the fray with an explosive claim. Gandhi directly challenged the ECI, stating, “The Election Commission should not remain under any illusion! We have 100% solid proof of your tactics to steal votes.”
चुनाव आयोग गलतफहमी में न रहे!
वोट चोरी करने के आपके हथकंडों के 100% पुख्ता सबूत हैं हमारे पास।
हम उन्हें सामने भी लाएंगे और आप इसके अंजाम से बच नहीं पाएंगे – लोकतंत्र और संविधान को बर्बाद करने की कोशिश करने वाले बक्शे नहीं जाएंगे। pic.twitter.com/gYAVbDo20O
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 24, 2025
He issued a stern warning, asserting, “We will bring them to light, and you will not escape the consequences – those who try to destroy democracy and the constitution will not be spared.”
“Misleading and Baseless!” – commission rejects Gandhi’s allegations
In a swift and unequivocal response, the Election Commission of India, through its official X handle, categorically rejected Rahul Gandhi’s severe allegations. The ECI’s official statement declared, “the claim made in this social media post is misleading and baseless.”
❌इस सोशल मीडिया पोस्ट में किया गया दावा भ्रामक और निराधार है
✅ विस्तार में जानने के लिए, नीचे दिए गए इस मुख्य निर्वाचन अधिकारी, कर्नाटक के लिंक को देखिए।https://t.co/TBcX8aUwji
चित्र में विवरण पढ़ें 👇 https://t.co/fdiDWMDttL pic.twitter.com/HZ73NxwlJc
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) July 24, 2025
Moreover, as the deadline for form submission will close tomorrow, the focus now shifts to the publication of the draft electoral roll-on August 1 and the subsequent claims and objections period. The significant numbers of potential deletions and the deep-seated concerns of the opposition ensure that the Bihar SIR will remain a heated topic as the state heads towards its assembly elections.
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