SIR in Bihar: JD(U) MP says EC not in touch with ground realities

Janata Dal (United) Member of Parliament from Banka, Giridhari Yadav, on Wednesday (July 23, 2025) expressed reservations over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, stating that the Election Commission of India (EC) had no understanding of the “ground realities” in the State.

While Opposition parties such as the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have been protesting against the SIR in Parliament and the Bihar Assembly, constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), JD(U), and Lok Janshakti Party, have supported the exercise as a measure to clean the electoral rolls ahead of the Assembly elections later this year.

Mr. Yadav, speaking to The Hindu, clarified that his remarks reflected his personal views and had not been discussed with his party leadership. “I am an MP, and my constituents, especially those who are poor, are finding it difficult to get documents. What was the hurry for this exercise? Couldn’t the EC have begun it far earlier?” he asked.

He added that it had taken him nearly 10 days to obtain documents for his son, who was abroad at the time of the revision. “My constituency has people who are also migrant labourers. Their contractors do not give them leave to go home and fill out forms. The EC should have given more time. The whole public of Bihar is upset by this exercise,” he said.

While Mr. Yadav has gone on record, JD(U) leaders said there was internal unease within the party over the SIR. “The JD(U) gets votes in catchment areas where the BJP does not. Rich, upper castes will have documents; our voters may not,” a party source said.

An important part of JD(U) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s political strategy has involved outreach to backward or Pasmanda Muslims in the State. According to Ali Anwar, former JD(U) MP and national president of the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, the SIR may benefit the BJP, but not the JD(U).

“The JD(U) has already come down to 43 seats in 2020 from 71 seats in 2015. Supporting this exercise will be like striking the last nail in the party’s coffin,” he said.

On Wednesday (July 23, 2025), both Houses of Parliament were adjourned within minutes amid continued Opposition protests over the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.