Congress Slams EC Over SIR of Bihar’s Electoral Rolls

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Thursday reiterated his party’s criticism of the Election Commission of India over its decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision of Bihar’s electoral rolls. Ramesh questioned the necessity of the SIR, citing the ECI’s own 2024 KAP survey, which found that the electoral rolls were already at “near perfect accuracy.”

The survey revealed that many eligible citizens remain unenrolled due to paperwork and lack of awareness, suggesting the ECI’s focus should be on inclusion rather than exclusion.

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In a statement shared on platform X, Ramesh questioned what prompted the ECI to conduct the SIR, given the recent survey’s findings. He hinted that the move might be motivated by the ruling party’s desire to rig elections in Bihar.

The Congress leader highlighted the Supreme Court’s recent order, which directed the publication of 65 lakh deleted voters’ names during the SIR process. He accused the ECI of opposing this instruction and attempting to shift the responsibility to political parties and individuals.

“The SIR is less about electoral cleansing rolls; it is more about destroying democracy itself,” Ramesh stated. He also criticised the ECI’s claim of impartiality, calling it “laughable” in the face of evidence suggesting partisanship. Ramesh emphasised that the real test for the ECI lies in complying with the Supreme Court’s directives on the Bihar SIR process.