S.I.R. is an exercise to preserve India's sovereignty

In the latest salvo in its ongoing vilification campaign aimed at discrediting the Election Commission of India and thereby eroding India's democratic process, Congress leader Pawan Khera attacked Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (S.I.R.) claiming that the "EC keeps getting news planted through its sources that no complaints are coming from any political party. The truth is that the Congress submitted 89 lakh complaints pertaining to irregularities in the S.I.R. to the EC. When our BLAs went to file complaints, their complaints were turned down by the EC. The EC categorically told our BLAs that complaints could be accepted by individuals only, not by political parties."

- VIVEK GUMASTE

He also alleged cases of duplication and demanded that the S.I.R. be re-conducted. These remarks are typical of the Congress Party's game plan that is in play currently: a strategy crafted by its leader Rahul Gandhi who revels in making baseless accusations against the EC that are sensational, outrageous and provocative but lacking in evidence and thereby unable to fulfill the criteria of due process.

Responding to Pawan Khera's charges which have elements of his leader's shenanigans, the Bihar CEO unequivocally demolished the Congress charge with a point-by-point rebuttal.

1. District Congress Committee presidents submitted letters to District Election Officers in the last 1-2 days, alleging deletion of around 89 lakh names from Bihar's electoral rolls.

2. As per rules and directions of the Election Commission, objections to deletions can only be raised under Rule 13 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 through Form 7, or by BLAs of recognized political parties using the prescribed format along with a declaration under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

3. The Supreme Court, in its interim order dated 22 August 2025, also clarified that objections by 12 political parties must be submitted in the prescribed format to the concerned Electoral Registration Officer.

4. Since the objections submitted by District Congress Committee presidents were not in the required format, District Election Officers have forwarded them to the concerned Electoral Registration Officers for appropriate action.

With regard to the allegation of duplicate voters the Bihar CEO office stated that current draft rolls are being scrutinized and not final.