Tejashwi Yadav writes to 35 leaders, flags 15% voter disenfranchisement risk in Bihar

Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday wrote letters to 35 prominent opposition leaders across the country seeking their support in his struggle against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar, which may lead to large-scale disenfranchisement.

In a message posted on ‘X’, he stated: “I have written letters to 35 senior leaders of various parties across the country against the attack on voting rights and democracy being carried out under the guise of voter list revision by the Election Commission at the behest of the BJP government. We will continue to oppose this process together until it becomes transparent and inclusive.”

Advertisement

Addressing top opposition leaders, including Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, the RJD leader said that if they do not oppose this exercise in Bihar, it will be conducted in other states as well.

Citing the Election Commission of India (ECI) Press Notes dated 16 July 2025, Tejashwi said that around 4.5% of the population is already out in the name of ‘electors not found at their addresses.’ This is in addition to the 4% who have ‘probably’ deceased or permanently shifted.

He said: “Going by these numbers, journalists on the ground and political scientists who are closely observing the exercise peg the disenfranchisement at a whopping 12% to 15%. This is unprecedented in the history of our country.”

Questioning the timing of the SIR, he said: “The ECI has not done itself any favours by announcing and carrying out the exercise in a haphazard and high-handed manner. They have not been transparent. They are making and breaking their rules on the fly. Worse, they are targeting anyone and everyone who is demanding transparency and accountability.”

Evoking the experiences of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections, the RJD leader said that now it is Bihar’s turn.

He added: “This needs to be resisted in the strongest terms possible. Because if we do not raise our voices and register our strong protest, the same will be carried out in other states as well. The constitution demands that we defend the republic. We should not be found wanting at this historical juncture.