Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has made a major claim, stating that his name has been removed from the new voter list of Bihar. This statement has created a stir in political circles.
Bihar Politics: Bihar politics was stirred when Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav claimed that his name had been removed from the voter list. Tejashwi Yadav alleged that approximately 6.5 million voters' names have been removed from the draft list in the state before the proposed 2025 assembly elections.
However, regarding this serious allegation by Tejashwi, the Election Commission (ECI) immediately reacted and termed Tejashwi Yadav's claim as "misleading and baseless." The commission clarified that Tejashwi Yadav's name is clearly present in the draft voter list at serial number 416.
Tejashwi Yadav's Claim
In a statement made during media interactions and posted on X (formerly Twitter), Tejashwi Yadav said,
'My name is not on the new voter list. If I myself cannot contest the election, how will I represent the people of Bihar? Isn't this a conspiracy against democracy?'
Tejashwi also claimed that approximately 6.5 million voters have been excluded from the list in Bihar in a planned manner, which will harm specific sections and opposition parties.
Election Commission's Strong Rebuttal
Taking cognizance of Tejashwi Yadav's allegations, the Election Commission issued an official statement. The commission said:
'It has come to our attention that Shri Tejashwi Yadav has claimed that his name has been removed from the draft voter list of Bihar. We want to clarify that this claim is completely false and misleading. His name is recorded at serial number 416 in the draft list.'
The commission further stated that the error related to the EPIC number presented by Tejashwi could be technical, but it does not prove that his name is missing from the list.
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Campaign and Draft List
The Election Commission recently conducted a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign to update the voter list in Bihar. This process lasted for a month, during which voters were given the opportunity to verify their names, make corrections, and add new names. The draft list released on July 28 has attempted to ensure the highest level of transparency to date. The commission has appealed to the public that if anyone finds any errors, they can file an objection by August 31, 2025.
Tejashwi Yadav's statement has heated up the politics of Bihar. While RJD supporters have taken this statement seriously, BJP and JDU leaders have described it as a "political gimmick." Political analysts believe that Tejashwi Yadav may be trying to garner political sympathy in the upcoming elections by portraying himself as a victim through such statements.
