PATNA, BIHAR – The Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Saturday, August 2, 2025, that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav’s claim that his name was absent from the draft electoral rolls for the next assembly polls was completely false. The ECI supplied documents that proved Yadav’s voter information is still correct and called his claim “baseless.”
Yadav, who is the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, held a press conference earlier in the day. He said that he couldn’t find his name on the rolls that were published as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He showed how to check online for his Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number by connecting his phone to a big screen, which said “no records found.”
“Now look!” I am not registered to vote myself. This means I can’t run for office. Yadav said, “Maybe I stop being treated like a citizen and lose the right to live in this house,” stressing how serious his claim was.
The ECI has real proof that people are registered to vote.
The Election Commission quickly responded to Yadav’s public declaration by sending out a copy of the draft electoral rolls. Yadav’s name, picture, and other important information were clearly shown at serial number 416. Officials from the ECI also confirmed that Yadav’s EPIC number, RAB0456228, which he used to run for office in both 2015 and 2020, is still valid and is correctly listed in the most recent electoral roll, which was made public on August 1.
On the other hand, the ECI said that a second EPIC number, RAB2916120, which Yadav allegedly used in his online search, was not valid. According to an ECI insider, “We have looked over records from more than ten years ago. There is no sign of this second EPIC number. It probably was never legally granted, and we are now checking into if it is fake.
Accusations of mistakes and worries about openness
Yadav not only talked about his own voter status, but he also highlighted bigger issues about the fairness of the election revision process. He said that the booth-level officer (BLO) who came to his house to pick up his completed form didn’t provide him a receipt, even though he had taken a picture of it when he turned it in. “I even took a picture while I was submitting it,” he claimed, claiming that these kinds of mistakes make the whole procedure seem suspicious.
Yadav asked if the method worked for the average person, saying, “Would you expect someone living outside Bihar to physically verify their name in the rolls?” This showed how important digital accessibility is. If someone like me is affected, what chance does a normal person have? It has been said that even an IAS couple has had their names removed.
The ECI’s statement is meant to calm fears and show that the revision of the electoral roll is clear and correct before the approaching Bihar assembly elections. After a month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) procedure, the draft electoral roll for Bihar was made public on August 1. According to the draft, there are now 7.24 crore voters in Bihar, which is a drop of more than 65 lakh from the 7.89 crore voters it had on June 24, 2025. This drop includes people who died (22.34 lakh), people who moved away or were absent permanently (36.28 lakh), and people who entered the same information twice (7.01 lakh). Voters and recognized political parties can register claims and complaints about the draft rolls until September 1. The final electoral roll will be published on September 30.