"30-40 lakh Biharis returning for Diwali, Chhath may miss voting": Prashant Kishor

Patna (Bihar) [India], July 4 (ANI): Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Friday has raised objections to the timing of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, stating that it could result in the exclusion of a large number of voters who return to the state only during the festive season.
Speaking to ANI, Kishor said, "We are against this, we have expressed concern, and we have also called a meeting of our executive to discuss this issue because there is a very large section in Bihar that comes from outside during Diwali, Chhath, and for them, coming before Diwali, Chhath and submitting documents as per the Election Commission's wish is not possible... In such a case, the 30-40 lakh people of Bihar who will come for Diwali, Chhath, none of them will be able to vote..."
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) met representatives of various political parties at Nirvachan Sadan on Wednesday, said the Election Commission.
The Commission, under the Chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, heard the concerns, issues and queries raised by the party representatives and decoded for them, the entire Special Intensive Revision (SIR) which is well underway in Bihar and is progressing smoothly, added Election Commission statement.
The political parties were - Indian National Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Communist Party of India, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey).
ECI informed the political parties that the SIR exercise is being conducted in a planned, structured and a phased manner to facilitate the inclusion of all eligible citizens. Active participation by 1,54,977 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by the recognised political parties across the state of Bihar is also ensuring that the process is happening in a transparent manner.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar exhorted all political parties to come forward and appoint even more BLAs to assist voters in enrollment and make the process fully transparent and participatory.
In the first phase, from 25th June to 3rd July 2025, Enumeration Forms (EFs) are being printed and distributed to the approximately 7.90 crore electors in Bihar. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are making available partially pre-filled forms, based on existing records as on 23rd June 2025, through the 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) pressed into action for the exercise, and further 20,603 BLOs are being appointed. These BLOs are delivering the EFs door-to-door to all the 7.90 crore electors whose names are on the Electoral Roll as on 24.06.2025 (date of issue of SIR order). In addition, the forms are available for download on the ECI portal and the BLAs appointed by political parties may also submit up to 50 certified forms per day.
In the second phase, the Enumeration Forms will be filled and are to be submitted before 25th July 2025. To support this process, volunteers are available to assist the voters alongside the BLOs. Nearly 4 lakh volunteers which include government officials, NCC cadets, NSS etc. have been deployed to make the process seamless for the voters and help the old, sick, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), poor and other vulnerable groups.
Electors whose names exist in the Electoral Roll as on 1st January 2003 are only required to submit the Enumeration Form along with an extract of the roll, without the need for submitting any other documents. Those not listed in the 2003 Roll will need to submit a document (from the indicative list of 11 documents) for their date of birth/place of birth as per their birthdate as follows, individuals born before 1st July 1987, to provide a document for themselves, those born between 1st July 1987 and 2nd December 2004, to include documents for themselves and one parent, Individuals born after 2nd December 2004, to submit documents for themselves and both parents.
Electors whose parents' names were on the Electoral Roll as of 01.01.2003, need not submit any additional documents relating to their parents.
In the third phase of the exercise, running parallel from June 25 to 26th July 2025, the completed Enumeration Forms will be collected by the BLOs along with the self-attested documents and will also upload the data through the BLO App/ECINET on a daily basis. While collecting the forms, the BLOs will issue acknowledgement receipts to the electors. These physical forms will be submitted to the respective EROs or Assistant EROs (AEROs).
A facility for online submission of Enumeration Forms has been developed to further ease the process for electors and will be available by today evening.
In the fourth phase, the Draft Electoral Roll will be published on the 1st of August 2025. The list will include all electors whose forms have been received by the deadline. Names for which no Enumeration Form has been submitted before 25th July will not appear in the Draft Roll. EROs and AEROs will scrutinize the forms against the eligibility criteria laid down in Article 326 of the Constitution, which requires electors to be Indian citizens, aged 18 or above, and ordinarily resident in the constituency.
Copies of the Draft Roll will be provided to recognised political parties free of cost and uploaded on the ECI website. Electors who miss the initial deadline can still apply during the claims and objections period using Form 6, along with a declaration form. BLAs can continue to submit up to 10 forms per day even after the Draft Roll is published.
The fifth phase, from 1st August to 1st September 2025, any member of the public can file claims and objections. During this time, the EROs/AEROs will scrutinise applications and objections in line with Article 326 and Sections 16 and 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
The public can file claims for inclusion or raise objections to existing entries in the Draft Roll. No deletion will be made without due inquiry and providing the concerned person a fair hearing. Daily lists of claims and objections will be displayed at the ERO offices and published on the Chief Electoral Officer's website. Weekly updates will also be shared with political parties. The final ER will be prepared after disposing of claims and objections.
The Final Electoral Roll will be published on the 30th September 2025. Hard and soft copies will be given free of cost to all recognised political parties and published on the ECI website. Any elector aggrieved by the decision of the ERO may appeal to the District Magistrate under Section 24(a) of the RP Act, 1950 within fifteen days of the order. A further appeal may be preferred to the Chief Electoral Officer under Section 24(b) if the elector remains dissatisfied within 30 days of the order.
The Election Commission urges all eligible citizens in Bihar to participate actively in this special drive to ensure that no voter is left out. (ANI)