The Supreme Court on Thursday (July 10, 2025) asked the Election Commission of India (ECI), in the interest of justice, to consider Aadhaar card, Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC), and ration card as proof for voter registration in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. Also read: Bihar voter list … Read more
It is not yet noon, but the tracks at the Jogbani railway station are shimmering in the heat. Jogbani in Bihar’s Araria district is the last station on the Indian side. The Indo-Nepal border is just a few metres away. Across the railway line, in the cram-jam of run-down semi-urbanisation, the stench from the black … Read more
The Supreme Court’s order on Bihar’s electoral rolls sparks a war of words between BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia and Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh. File | Photo Credit: PTI/ANI A war of words ensued between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress on Friday (July 11, 2025) following the Supreme Court’s order on … Read more
As controversy rages over the few documents considered valid for voter registration during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, a key figure that has emerged is that of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). The discretionary powers being given to these officials of the State government could taint the SIR process, warn … Read more
Many petitions challenging the SIR in Bihar have been filed in the Supreme Court. File | Photo Credit: ANI A Supreme Court Bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi is scheduled on July 10 to hear arguments for and against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll under way in poll-bound Bihar … Read more
Congress general secretary (organisation), K.C. Venugopal pointed out that the apex court will hear the case again later this month, while expressing hope that the EC will go with the court’s suggestion. | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA The Congress on Thursday (July 10, 2025) said the Supreme Court’s suggestion that the Election Commission (EC) … Read more
The story so far: On July 10, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission (EC) to consider Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, and ration cards as acceptable documents for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. It has listed the batch of petitions challenging the EC’s decision for further hearing on July … Read more
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is flanked by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu (left) and Vivek Joshi. Photo: X@ECISVEEP via PTI The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, which will be facing Assembly elections in November. Political parties in the Opposition have alleged that … Read more
In recent years, India has experienced a subtle, yet significant, shift in how citizenship and national belonging are defined, and, increasingly, how voting rights are determined. This transformation is most evident in the ongoing electoral roll revision by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Bihar, just months before the State Assembly elections later this … Read more
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with CPI (ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and others addresses supporters during a protest amid ‘Bihar bandh’ called by the INDIA bloc against Special Intensive Revision in the state, in Patna, on July 9, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader … Read more
Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan addresses the press at the Patna Secretariat along with Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The Centre would release funds for the construction of rural roads in Bihar as soon as the State government sent its proposal and carried out a … Read more
Demanding a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, INDIA bloc leaders on Monday (July 7, 2025) criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI), and said the poll body was in a confused situation. Addressing a press conference in Patna, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) … Read more
Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav addresses a press conference on Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, in Patna on July 7, 2025. | Photo Credit: ANI Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday (July 8, 2025) accused the … Read more
At least five out of the 11 key documents sought by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for Bihar’s voters’ list revision do not indicate the applicant’s place or date of birth — one of the pre-requisites for inclusion in the electoral rolls. Aadhaar, voter identity cards issued by the Election Commission of India (Electors … Read more
‘The SIR also has features of the ordeal the people of Assam experienced during the National Register of Citizens exercise’ | Photo Credit: AP We are now in the second week since the sudden launch of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, on June 24, 2025. By now we all … Read more
RJD leader Manoj Jha. File | Photo Credit: PTI Petitions challenging the decision of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar are mounting with RJD MP Manoj Jha moving the Supreme Court. Mr. Jha termed the SIR process in the State “ill-timed and … Read more
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. File. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP With the State Assembly elections just months away, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Patna on Wednesday (July 9, 2025), to join State-wide bandh called by Opposition parties over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls,new labour code and deteriorating law and … Read more
Voters show the enumeration forms given by a Booth Level Officer (BLO) during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Vaishali district, Bihar. Photo: X/@ECISVEEP via PTI The Supreme Court on Monday (July 7, 2025) agreed to urgently hear on July 10 a batch of petitions challenging the legality of the special intensive … Read more
Voters show enumeration forms given by District Election Officer cum District Officer. Photo: X/@CEOBihar via PTI Even as a pitched legal battle lies ahead for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, the Supreme Court on Monday (July 7, 2025) drew petitioners’ attention to a judgment which observed that the Constitution does not “exalt” … Read more
Voters show the enumeration forms given by a booth-level officer (BLO) during the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, in Vaishali district. Photo: X@ECISVEEP via PTI The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday (July 5, 2025) said that the special intensive revision (SIR) is underway in full swing in Bihar. Booth-level officers (BLOs), … Read more
The Election Commission of India has allowed Bihar voters more time to submit one of the 11 documents required for validation in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the State’s upcoming Assembly election, even while insisting that the SIR was “being implemented smoothly at the ground level”. The ECI’s announcement … Read more
TMC leader Mahua Moitra. File | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap Trinamool Congress leader and Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra has moved the Supreme Court challenging an order of the Election Commission of India for special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. In her plea, Ms. Moitra said she seeks setting aside of the … Read more
LJP (RV) leader Chirag Paswan addressing a rally in Saran, Bihar, on July 6, 2025. Picture: Screenshot from video posted on X/@iChiragPaswan Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President Chirag Paswan on Sunday criticised his own government and reiterated that he will contest in the upcoming Assembly election. Mr. Paswan took the potshot … Read more
The Election Commission has said that verification will start vigorously from August 2, 2025, onwards after the publication of the draft electoral rolls. File | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma The Election Commission (EC) on Friday (July 4, 2025) said that over 87% of the enumeration forms had already been distributed to nearly 1.5 crore … Read more
File photo of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. | Photo Credit: ANI With prominent businessman Gopal Khemka being shot dead outside his residence in Patna, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday (July 6, 2025) lashed out at the Nitish Kumar government and said the incident has once again … Read more
Congress General Secretary K.C Venugopal. File. | Photo Credit: ANI Alleging that the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar is a “sinister exercise,” the Congress on Friday (July 4, 2025) said it would not “let this go through”. “This government specialises in giving people hell. The SIR is a sinister exercise … Read more
Leaders from India Alliance addresses media after coming out of ECI in New Delhi on July 02, 2025. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap A day after their meeting with the Election Commission (EC) on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the Assembly election, the INDIA bloc is … Read more
State Congress chief Rajesh Kumar announced the launch of the drive at Bihar Congress HQ. Photo credit: X/@LambaAlka Ahead of the State Assembly elections in Bihar, the Congress is set to distribute five lakh sanitary pad packets to women, featuring party leader Rahul Gandhi’s photograph, a move that has drawn strong criticism from the ruling … Read more
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav with Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram and Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahni speaks to the media after visiting the State Election Commission, in Patna, Friday, July 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI A delegation of INDIA bloc leaders on Friday (July 4, 2025) met Bihar Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vinod … Read more
CPI General Secretary D. Raja addresses a press conference in New Delhi on July 04, 2025. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap Underlining the danger that several lakh voters could face exclusion from the electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being undertaken in Bihar by the Election Commission, Communist Party of India (CPI) … Read more