Tejashwi Yadav Seeks National Support Against Voter Disenfranchisement in Bihar
TheTrendingPeople.com | July 20, 2025 | Patna
Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, on Sunday made a scathing attack on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar, alleging large-scale disenfranchisement of voters. Yadav shared on social media that he had written to 35 political leaders across the country, urging them to take a stand against what he described as a threat to democratic integrity.
Among the recipients of the letter are not only opposition figures such as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, but also key members of the ruling coalition at both state and central levels. These include Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, LJP (RV) president Chirag Paswan, HAM(S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, AJSU president Sudhesh Mahto, and Apna Dal (Soneylal) leader Anupriya Patel.
In his letter, which was posted on X (formerly Twitter), Yadav said he was writing “with a deep sense of anguish and urgency,” alleging that the SIR process has undermined democracy by disenfranchising a significant section of the electorate.
“The farce and tragedy of the Special Intensive Revision going on in Bihar has shaken the very foundation of democracy through large-scale disenfranchisement,” he wrote. “It is a clear indication of how the independent institution of the Election Commission is adamant on eroding public trust in the integrity of our electoral process.”
Yadav’s concerns stem from figures mentioned in the Election Commission’s press note dated July 16, which stated that 4.5% of the voters were not found at their addresses and another 4% were believed to be deceased or had permanently shifted. According to him, independent assessments suggest disenfranchisement could be as high as 12–15%, an “unprecedented” figure in India’s electoral history.
Calling the situation a “democratic emergency,” Yadav criticized the timing and implementation of the SIR exercise, even suggesting that the Supreme Court had expressed doubts about its intent.
He alleged that the Election Commission had carried out the revision in a "haphazard and high-handed manner" and failed to adhere to its own rules.
“They are targeting anyone and everyone who demands transparency and accountability,” the RJD leader charged.
Yadav also drew attention to past controversies, stating that unresolved issues from the Maharashtra Assembly elections were still fresh in public memory, and now it was Bihar’s turn to face similar irregularities.
“This needs to be resisted in the strongest terms possible,” he urged in his letter. “If we do not raise our voices now, this model will be replicated in other states as well.”
Tejashwi Yadav framed his appeal as a constitutional duty, calling on leaders from all political backgrounds to defend the republic at this “historical juncture.”
His letter has sparked a wave of political discussions, especially with the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections drawing closer, and the voter revision process already under public scrutiny. Whether this outreach leads to a united political pushback remains to be seen.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
Tejashwi Yadav’s move to build a broad coalition against the SIR process in Bihar underlines the seriousness of his concerns about electoral integrity. With multiple opposition leaders now aware and involved, the coming days may see sharper national focus on the EC's actions in Bihar. This could also set the tone for electoral reforms or protests ahead of the 2025 Bihar polls.