Bihar Rolls Purge: 65 Lakh Voters Dropped, Opposition Howls Foul
The Bihar Election Commission on Friday released its draft electoral rolls, a significant reduction from the previous count. A total of 7.24 crore names feature in the revised list, following the deletion of 65 lakh entries.
This massive purge has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Opposition parties are vehemently alleging irregularities, claiming the deletions disproportionately affect marginalized communities. They’ve vowed to fight this through protests and legal avenues.
The Commission, however, maintains the deletions were part of a routine electoral roll revision. Voters are urged to verify their names online and file appeals against any incorrect omissions.
The process allows for online verification and appeals against deletions until a specified date. The matter is further complicated by an ongoing Supreme Court case challenging the deletion process.
This controversy raises serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process in Bihar, especially its impact on voter participation, particularly among vulnerable sections of society. The upcoming elections will undoubtedly be influenced by the outcome of this ongoing battle.
