Opposition leaders move Supreme Court as EC completes first phase of Bihar voter roll revision process

The development came even as the poll body completed the initial phase of the updation process and insisted that it was "being implemented smoothly at the ground level".

Written by India News Desk

July 6, 2025 21:38 IST

The development came even as the poll body completed the initial phase of the updation process and insisted that it was "being implemented smoothly at the ground level". (Photo: PTI)

The Rashtriya Janata Dal moved the Supreme Court on Sunday following an Election Commission order calling for ‘Special Intensive Revision’ of voters in the state. The development came even as the poll body completed the initial phase of the updation process and insisted that it was “being implemented smoothly at the ground level”. Opposition leaders have been vocal in their criticism of the EC exercise months before the Bihar assembly elections — with some accusing the agency of seeking a ‘backdoor attempt to implement the NRC’.

According to an ANI update, RJD MP Manoj Jha has become the latest politician to challenge the ECI decision in the Supreme Court. This comes hours after TMC MP Mahua Moitra and activist Yogendra Yadav challenged the order — arguing that it violated fundamental rights and threatened to undermine democratic processes.

Meanwhile the poll body said that the initial phase of the Special Intensive Revision had been completed in Bihar. ECI also reiterated that there was no change in the SIR instructions issued last month — with draft electoral rolls scheduled for release on August 1.

“The initial phase of SIR, during which Enumeration forms were to be printed and distributed, is almost complete with the forms having been made available to all the electors who were available,” read a statement from the poll panel.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also moved the apex court on Sunday following the announcement. The Opposition leader contended that the order was “aimed at disabling lakhs of bonafide voters” and help the BJP at the Centre. Moitra said that party supremo Mamata Banerjee had already flagged this issue and talked about the “diabolical game plan” of the poll body.

“They (EC) have now introduced it to deprive the bonafide young electorate of Bihar, where elections are slated to be held shortly. Later, they will target Bengal, where elections are due in 2026. Leaders of different opposition parties have also voiced concern over the move and asked EC not to go ahead with it. We have now moved the Supreme Court to intervene in the issue,” the Krishnanagar MP told PTI.