The Election Commission of India (ECI) has revealed that a “large number” of foreign nationals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar were detected during house-to-house verification in Bihar, part of the ongoing special revision of the electoral rolls.
According to ECI officials, the findings came from reports submitted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting door-to-door visits across various districts. The illegal migrants identified during this process will not be included in the final electoral roll, which is scheduled for publication on September 30, pending further inquiry after August 1.
The review drive, which assumes significance ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections due in October-November 2025, aims to cleanse the voter rolls of ineligible entries, particularly foreign nationals. A similar nationwide revision is also being planned.
In Saran district, District Magistrate and District Election Officer Aman Sameer led field inspections in several panchayats under the Ekma Assembly Constituency, checking the performance of BLOs and verifying enumeration activities.
As of Saturday evening, over 80.11% of Bihar’s eligible electors had submitted their Enumeration Forms (EFs), with officials targeting completion by July 25.
The move has sparked political controversy. Opposition parties, including the Congress and RJD, have raised concerns about the revision process. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi termed the decision to treat voters added after 2003 as “suspects” as legally questionable and arbitrary. Rahul Gandhi also addressed a rally with Tejashwi Yadav in Purnea, criticizing the ECI’s actions.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has asked the ECI to consider Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards as valid proof of eligibility during the revision. The court has agreed to hear petitions questioning whether the exercise violates legal provisions or could lead to mass voter disenfranchisement before elections.
Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal are due in 2026, making the voter list revisions a politically sensitive issue across several states.
