India’s opposition parties have accused the government and the Election Commission of orchestrating a dangerous electoral roll revision in Bihar that could strip millions of their right to vote ahead of crucial state elections in November. On Monday, hundreds of lawmakers and supporters marched from Parliament in protest, only to be blocked by police in New Delhi. Several opposition MPs, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, were briefly detained.
The revision, covering nearly 80 million voters in Bihar, demands strict documentation such as birth certificates, passports, and matriculation records—papers critics say are hard to obtain in one of India’s poorest states, especially for minorities and disadvantaged groups. Aadhaar cards, despite being widely used as ID, are not accepted under the new rules. Opposition leaders warn the move will disproportionately target Muslims and the poor, effectively erasing them from voter rolls.
The Election Commission insists the update is routine and aimed at removing ineligible names, including alleged undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh. It claims nearly 50 million voters from a similar 2003 exercise are exempt from re-submitting documents, but nearly 30 million others remain at risk. Critics, however, liken the process to Assam’s controversial 2019 citizenship list, which left nearly 2 million people—mostly Muslims—facing statelessness and even detention.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP has endorsed the revision, arguing it is essential for cleaning voter rolls and preventing fraud. Yet, opposition leaders see it as a calculated political tool to tilt the Bihar polls in the BJP’s favour, in a state where the party has never ruled outright without coalition partners.
Rahul Gandhi has already accused the Election Commission of ignoring fraud in past elections, citing his party’s claim that 100,000 votes in a Karnataka seat in 2024 were illegitimate—a charge the poll body dismissed. With the Bihar revision expected to be replicated nationwide, critics warn the move is a dangerous precedent that could undermine the democratic rights of millions across India.
