The ongoing voter list revision in Bihar has sparked a political storm, with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleging that the State-wide Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) is a covert move resembling a “backdoor NRC” designed to disempower the poorest and most marginalized citizens, particularly in Muslim-majority regions.
The Bihar backdoor NRC serves two clear purposes: it disempowers the poorest people of Bihar and paves the way for their exclusion from citizenship.
In this country, voting is the only real power the poor have. That right cannot be snatched away just because someone doesn’t have…
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) July 9, 2025
Owaisi argued that the new process—requiring voters to submit Enumeration Forms and produce one of 11 listed documents, many of which lack key details like date and place of birth—is exclusionary and burdensome. He warned that this could lead to mass disenfranchisement, particularly for migrant workers, daily wage earners, and illiterate citizens who often lack formal documentation.
बिहार के मुस्लिम बहुल जिलों में आधार सैचुरेशन 100% से अधिक है, जैसे किशनगंज में 126%, कटिहार में 123%, अररिया में 123% और पूर्णिया में 121%. यह सवाल उठता है कि ये अतिरिक्त आधार कार्ड किसके लिए बनाए गए हैं और क्यों?https://t.co/pdm6Q3hIus
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 10, 2025
He further stated that those unable to meet the verification criteria may be removed from electoral rolls, thereby losing their basic citizenship rights, such as access to ration cards, agricultural land, and government services. He accused the ECI of poor planning, legal overreach, and failing to engage in public consultation before launching such a significant revision drive.
In response, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya took to social media and raised suspicions about Aadhaar saturation levels exceeding 100% in several Muslim-majority districts of Bihar—Kishanganj (126%), Katihar (123%), Araria (123%), and Purnia (121%). He questioned the legitimacy of these figures and asked, “Who are these extra Aadhaar cards being made for and why?”
Concerns Over Discrimination and Electoral Integrity
Owaisi also criticized the role of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), stating that they are not trained or legally empowered to decide on matters of citizenship. He cited the Supreme Court’s Babu Lal Hussein judgment, emphasizing that mere suspicion cannot be the basis for questioning an individual’s citizenship without genuine evidence.
He accused the ECI of sowing confusion by repeatedly amending its own notifications—at times requiring documents, at other times exempting certain groups, and now mandating a form without clarity on documentation. This, he claimed, reflects mala fide intent and an attempt to create fear among poor communities, especially minorities.
Broader Political Fallout
The controversy has triggered a wider debate on the fairness and transparency of voter verification exercises in India. While the BJP sees it as a necessary clean-up of electoral rolls and a step toward stopping fraud, opposition leaders argue that such sudden and sweeping measures disproportionately affect the poor and minorities, undermining the spirit of universal adult suffrage.
As the revision exercise unfolds, all eyes will be on how the ECI responds to these allegations, and whether mechanisms will be introduced to prevent the unjust exclusion of genuine voters.
