Bihar SIR threatens the credibility of elections

Without any warning, on June 24, the Election Commission announced a month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

- Swati Narayan

At the behest of SIR, 80 million Biharis are being asked to fill forms.

Many also have to produce documents to “prove” their citizenship within 30 days to be eligible to vote. The electoral rolls were cleaned just six months ago. So, what is the urgent need for this new revision? How can the onus be on existing voters to “prove” their citizenship?

Oddly, on the ground, district officials are invoking the Constitution to ramrod this draconian exercise. The EC also has an impossible deadline.

After an uproar, the Commission has clarified that in case of lack of documents “the ERO can take a decision on the basis of local investigation”. But this is an open invitation for corrupt officials, middlemen and petty gatekeepers to have a field day.

As of July 2025, Bihar has generated 114 million Aadhaar cards for its projected 130 million population; 83 million Biharis also have their names included on ration cards. But the EC is neither accepting Aadhaar nor ration cards as identity proofs.