Tejashwi Yadav Alleges Voter Roll Irregularity, ECI Responds, JDU Calls Out ‘Political Fraud’

As Bihar gears up for the 2025 Assembly elections, the state faces new accusations regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral roll. Concerns have been raised about discrepancies, including the alleged inclusion of deceased individuals and the omission of living citizens from the voter list. A prominent figure, Tejashwi Yadav, the CM candidate for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and son of party leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, has claimed his name is missing from the Election Commission’s draft voter list. He stated he had completed the enumeration form during the electoral roll revision, questioning how he can participate in the upcoming elections. Janata Dal (United) countered these claims, accusing Tejashwi of misleading the public. Tejashwi, addressing a press conference, asserted that despite submitting the enumeration form, his name was not present in the electoral roll. He questioned how he would contest elections. He also stated that even after entering his EPIC (Elector’s Photo Identification Card) number, his information was not found in the system, implying a potential conspiracy. The Patna district administration responded by clarifying that Tejashwi Yadav’s name is registered, but his polling station and serial number have changed. Tejashwi questioned how many other individuals had their EPIC numbers altered, hinting at a deliberate effort to manipulate the voter list. JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar labeled Tejashwi a ‘political fraud’, accusing him of exploiting the issue. The Election Commission refuted Tejashwi’s claims, stating his name is included in the draft electoral roll. The matter has intensified the already tense political climate in Bihar, especially with the elections approaching. The draft electoral roll was released, with a minority of applicants submitting documents to prove their eligibility. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a specific voter list verification process in Bihar, preparing for the upcoming elections. The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar and 243 Electoral Officers will address any objections to discrepancies from voters or political parties. Objections can be filed between August 1st and September 1st, 2025. The Election Commission’s objective is to guarantee the inclusion of all eligible citizens in the electoral roll in a transparent manner. The last intensive revision was conducted in 2003. Voters can check their details on the ECI website.