Bihar, a politically crucial state, is currently in the throes of a contentious electoral roll revision, just months before its Assembly elections. While the Election Commission of India (ECI) asserts that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a routine exercise aimed at purifying the electoral roll – removing deceased, shifted, or duplicate voters – it has become a hotbed of political controversy, largely fueled by the Right Wing's focus on "illegal migrants."
The ECI's data from the ongoing revision has indeed flagged a significant number of discrepancies: over 20 lakh deceased voters, 28 lakh who have permanently migrated, and 7 lakh found enrolled at multiple locations. Additionally, around 1 lakh voters are "untraceable," and 15 lakh forms were not returned. The ECI maintains that the SIR is a necessary step to ensure the accuracy and purity of the electoral process.
Why the Right Wing is Creating a "Ruckus":
The right-wing political narrative has quickly seized upon the "untraceable" and "permanently migrated" figures, framing the entire revision exercise through the lens of "illegal immigration" and "demographic change." Here's why this narrative gains traction and creates a "ruckus":
- Targeting "Infiltrators": For a long time, right-wing ideology has propagated fears of "illegal immigrants" from neighboring countries, particularly Bangladesh and Myanmar (often referring to Rohingya refugees), settling in border states and allegedly altering the demographic balance. They often claim these individuals are illegally obtaining voter IDs, thereby diluting the votes of "genuine citizens." The Bihar revision, by identifying "untraceable" or "non-existent" voters, provides a statistical hook for this pre-existing narrative.
- Voter Disenfranchisement Allegations: The fear is that the revision process, if not conducted meticulously and with due process, could disproportionately affect minority communities and migrant workers, who might face challenges in proving their "ordinary residence" or citizenship. The Right Wing, while ostensibly supporting the removal of "illegal voters," is simultaneously accused by the opposition of using this rhetoric to indirectly target specific communities for deletion from the electoral rolls, thereby weakening their political strength.
- "Votebandi" Allegations: Opposition parties, including the Congress and RJD, have dubbed the exercise "Votebandi" (akin to demonetisation or "Notebandi"), arguing that the rushed timeline (a month for over 7.75 crore voters to submit forms) and stringent documentation requirements are designed to disenfranchise genuine voters, especially migrant laborers and poorer sections who often lack comprehensive documentation or are away from their native places.
- Political Gain: By highlighting the "threat" of illegal voters and emphasizing the need for "electoral purity," the Right Wing seeks to mobilize its core vote bank and project itself as the protector of national identity and integrity. This narrative helps to divert attention from other socio-economic issues and consolidates support around a nationalistic agenda.
- Security Concerns: The narrative often ties "illegal immigrants" to broader national security concerns, suggesting that their presence is not just an electoral issue but a threat to the country's security. This amplifies public anxiety and gives a moralistic veneer to the demand for voter roll clean-up.
While the ECI has asserted that only Indian citizens are eligible to vote and that it is acting impartially, the Opposition has stalled Parliament proceedings, demanding a discussion on what they term a "dangerous and unconstitutional" exercise. They argue that the ECI is echoing the language of the right-wing without sufficient evidence or transparency, thereby institutionalizing what was once a fringe position.
The Bihar electoral roll revision, therefore, is more than just an administrative exercise. It has become a battleground for competing political narratives, with the Right Wing leveraging fears of "illegal migration" to drive its agenda, while the Opposition warns of potential mass disenfranchisement and a threat to the democratic process. The outcome of this revision, and the ongoing political debate, will have significant implications for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and the broader discourse on citizenship and electoral integrity in India.
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