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Key Points

Rajya Sabha MPs have raised alarms over Bihar's electoral roll revision, calling it a potential tool for voter exclusion. Jebi Mather Hisham and Sushmita Dev highlighted how stringent documentation rules could disenfranchise millions. The issue gains urgency with Bihar and Kerala elections approaching. Opposition leaders accuse the government of using the Election Commission to suppress marginalized voters.

Key Points: Jebi Mather Hisham Seeks Debate on Bihar Electoral Roll Revision

  • Jebi Mather Hisham flags transparency gaps in Bihar electoral roll revision
  • MPs allege exclusionary tactics targeting marginalised communities
  • Sushmita Dev slams document hurdles for migrants and poor
  • Opposition warns of voter suppression before Bihar and Kerala elections
2 min read

Jebi Mather Hisham seeks discussion on SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar

Rajya Sabha MPs demand urgent discussion on Bihar's SIR electoral roll revision, citing fears of mass disenfranchisement ahead of state polls.

"The exercise threatens to disenfranchise two crore voters, especially the poor and migrants. – Sushmita Dev"

New Delhi, July 23

Rajya Sabha MP Jebi Mather Hisham on Wednesday submitted an Adjournment Motion, seeking a discussion on the concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

In her letter to the Secretary General of Rajya Sabha, Hisham raised apprehensions over the actions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the exercise had triggered fears of disenfranchisement among marginalised communities due to the absence of adequate safeguards and transparency. She also highlighted the relevance of the issue in the context of the forthcoming elections in Kerala and other states.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MPs Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Syed Naseer Hussain, Ranani Ashokrao Patil, and Ranjeet Ranjan also submitted Adjournment Motions urging the House to take up the issue of SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar as a matter of urgent public importance.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sushmita Dev also moved an Adjournment Motion to discuss the ongoing issue of SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar.

In her letter to the Secretary General, Dev accused the government of using the Election Commission to implement an "exclusionary agenda" aimed at stripping voting rights under the guise of electoral list revision.

She further stated that the exercise "threatened" to disenfranchise two crore voters and particularly targeted the poor, migrants and marginalised communities by demanding documents such as the parental birth certificate, domicile proof and other records which most citizens did not possess.

"Even widely accepted identity documents like Aadhaar and ration cards were initially excluded from the verification process and even after a widespread public outcry, the Election Commission is reiterating the same. The exercise, being conducted during monsoon floods and peak migration season, makes it logistically unrealistic for lakhs of citizens to comply, raising serious apprehensions that this is a mechanism to exclude lakhs of voters rather than a genuine electoral update," the letter further read.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
While I appreciate MPs raising concerns, we must also consider that clean electoral rolls are necessary. Many states have duplicate/fake voters. Maybe EC is trying to fix this? But yes, the timing and document requirements seem problematic.
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Akhilesh G
Typical political drama before elections! All parties do this - cry foul when EC takes action to clean voter lists. If Aadhaar is now accepted, what's the issue? In my village, we've seen how political parties bribe people to make fake voter IDs.
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Shreya B
As someone from Bihar, I can confirm this is causing real problems. My domestic help's entire family might lose voting rights because they don't have their grandfather's birth certificate! EC should make the process simpler, especially for illiterate populations.
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David E
Interesting to see this debate from India. In Western democracies, voter ID laws are common but controversial too. The key is balance - prevent fraud while ensuring no legitimate voter is excluded. Maybe India needs a phased approach with better awareness campaigns?
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Nisha Z
Why is this only about Bihar? The article mentions Kerala too. As a Malayali, I'm worried this might affect our elections next year. EC should clarify their criteria uniformly across all states. Jebi Mather Hisham is right to raise this nationally.

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