Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday took a swipe at the Election Commission, highlighting a contentious issue surrounding voter lists in Bihar.
Taking to platform X, Gandhi shared a photograph of himself having tea with seven individuals who, according to the electoral rolls, were listed as “dead.” The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised questions about the accuracy of the voter lists revision exercise.
Gandhi’s post says: “There have been many interesting experiences in life, but I never got the chance to have tea with ‘dead people.’ For this unique experience, thank you Election Commission!” The Congress leader’s remark underscores the party’s allegations of electoral irregularities and disenfranchisement.
जीवन में बहुत दिलचस्प अनुभव हुए हैं,
लेकिन कभी ‘मृत लोगों’ के साथ चाय पीने का मौका नहीं मिला था।इस अनोखे अनुभव के लिए, धन्यवाद चुनाव आयोग! pic.x.com/Rh9izqIFsD
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 13, 2025
The seven individuals, all residents of Tejashwi Yadav’s constituency, Raghopur in Bihar, had been removed from the electoral rolls despite having completed the necessary paperwork. The incident is being touted as a part of a larger controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, with opposition parties alleging widespread irregularities and manipulation.
According to the Congress, the seven voters in question include: Ramikbal Ray, Harendra Ray, Lalmuni Devi, Vachiya Devi, Lalwati Devi, Punam Kumari, and Munna Kumar.
The issue has sparked a heated debate about the credibility of the electoral process and the role of the Election Commission in ensuring free and fair elections. Gandhi’s tweet has resonated with many, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral system.
“These 7 represent only a fraction of unjustly deleted voters in 2-3 polling booths in the constituency. This is not a clerical error — it is political disenfranchisement in plain sight. After Vote Chori was exposed in Bangalore, it is clear that the Bihar SIR exercise is also compromised. When the living are struck off as dead, the death certificate is issued to democracy itself,” the Congress said in a press note.