New Delhi, July 11: The Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar has triggered strong political reactions, with BJP’s Gaurav Bhatia calling it a “big setback” for the opposition-led INDIA bloc.
Addressing the media, Bhatia claimed the verdict undermines attempts by some political parties to exploit illegitimate voters for electoral gain.
“Those trying to manipulate democracy using non-eligible voters have been exposed. The Court’s stance sends a strong message,” Bhatia said, directly calling out Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav.
🔸 What Did the Supreme Court Say?
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi:
- Did NOT stay the Election Commission’s ongoing voter list revision
- Urged the ECI to consider accepting Aadhaar, ration cards, and voter IDs as valid documents during the verification process
- Directed the Commission to file a detailed affidavit and scheduled the next hearing for July 28
The revision process is happening under tight timelines as Bihar heads to Assembly elections in November 2025.
🔸 Opposition Reacts
Opposition leaders, particularly from the INDIA bloc, have criticised the ECI’s move as a “backdoor NRC” and alleged attempts to exclude poor and marginalised voters.
At a massive ‘Bihar Bandh’ rally in Patna, Rahul Gandhi warned of possible “electoral manipulation” akin to Maharashtra.
Their main concerns:
- Exclusion of common ID proofs like Aadhaar or ration card
- Citizenship proof requirement for remaining on the voter rolls
- Disenfranchisement risk for vulnerable communities
🔸 What’s Next?
The apex court emphasized:
“If the ECI rejects certain documents, it must explain why.”
While the SC has not yet ruled on the constitutionality of the SIR exercise, the Election Commission has been given the green light to proceed—at least for now.