Bihar electoral roll revision: EC exercise has Opposition up in arms, BJP allies jittery

The Election Commission of India on June 24 announced the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. (PTI)

Allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party allies in Bihar have raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls announced by the Election Commission of India in the state ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled to be held this year.

Several leaders of the Janata Dal (United), the Lok Janshakti Party as well as some of the BJP have expressed doubts if the poll panel would be able to complete the exercise in time without leaving out genuine voters.

Announced on June 24, the SIR drive began on June 25 and is set to conclude on July 25.

While publicly expressing support to the EC's initiative, NDA leaders, however, point out that the levels of literacy and poverty along with the lack of administrative remedies in the state makes it difficult for the poor and those from marginalized groups to secure even one of the 11 documents that EC has mandated to establish date and place of birth and be included in the list of voters.

The leaders have also pointed out that since the inclusion in electoral rolls was not directly linked with government benefits, voters may not feel motivated enough to take the trouble to secure the required documents to enlist. That eventually would place the onus of enlisting them on political parties.

"The voter will not be motivated enough to do the legwork or spend money to get the required documents. Ultimately, party workers will have to ensure that their vote bank retains the right to vote. All parties are already working on it," an LJP (RV) leader told The Indian Express.

A JD(U) leader who spoke to the paper said that while many people have documents required to avail benefits of government schemes, not many have documents such as birth or caste certificates required to enroll as a voter.

"This drive could most severely impact the extremely backward castes since they are poor and illiterate but not as protected as Dalits or as politically powerful as the backward castes such as Yadavs," the leader said.

Another senior JD(U) leader claimed that the EC's drive, though necessary, has left all political parties in a race against time. "All parties are running against time to make sure their Booth-Level Agents (BLAs) are in place to help people get the required documents," the leader told The Indian Express, adding that there may be legal challenges to the drive ahead as well.

A BJP leader said that despite best efforts from all political parties, there is high possibility of some genuine voters being left out in the exercise. "Even the poor among the upper castes may face difficulties. Things will be clear only after the revised rolls are out," he told IE.

Announcing the SIR last month, the EC said the exercise was aimed at weeding out bogus voters and illegal foreigners registered as voters in Bihar. The EC has also assured that genuine voters will not be left behind.

As per the EC’s directions, every eligible voter is required to submit an individual enumeration form. Those born after 1987 and added to the rolls after January 1, 2003 — the year of the last intensive revision — will have to additionally provide proof of their citizenship with documents, including a birth certificate, passport, caste certificate, or educational certificates.

The Opposition has termed the drive in the state a conspiracy to deprive poor, Dalits, tribals, and those from other backward communities of voting rights.

The EC has set a cut-off date of July 1987 as date of birth for compulsory furnishing of proof of date and place of birth for inclusion in the rolls. Those born between 1987 and 2007 will be 18 years old or more and will need to furnish proof unless included in the rolls during the 2003 revision.