Aadhaar out, uproar in: Bihar’s voter roll sparks a political firestorm

The Bihar roll revision initiated by the Election Commission (EC) just ahead of the elections is threatening to snowball into a major political crisis, with the opposition warning that it could disenfranchise millions. Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the principal Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Rahul Gandhi of the Congress have united in opposing the move, calling it a virtual “vote steal.”

Several petitions have been filed in court against the revision, citing lack of due process and an “unreasonably short timeline” for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. Even allies of the Modi government, including Union minister Chirag Paswan — who is contesting the Bihar assembly election —have voiced concern about what appears to be an overreach by the EC.