In a significant development ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has flagged the presence of a “large number” of foreign nationals—specifically from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar—during its house-to-house verification for voter list revision. This revelation comes as part of a special intensive campaign being carried out across the state, particularly in border regions. District-level officials like Aman Sameer, the District Magistrate of Saran, have personally overseen the verification efforts in various panchayats, ensuring that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) thoroughly screen applicants. According to a PTI report, individuals suspected to be illegal migrants will undergo a detailed inquiry post-August 1, and their names will not be included in the final electoral roll, which is scheduled for release on September 30.
The ECI stated that this operation is part of a nationwide plan to cleanse electoral rolls of ineligible foreign migrants by verifying their origin and identity credentials. As of July 12, over 80% of Bihar’s electorate had submitted their Enumeration Forms, and officials are working to wrap up the process by July 25. The issue has taken on political weight, with the upcoming state elections due in October or November and opposition leaders sharply criticizing the exercise. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently joined hands with RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav at a rally in Purnea, terming the ECI’s actions as “dangerous” and “bizarre.” Senior lawyer and Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi further attacked the commission’s decision to treat voters added after 2003 as suspects, calling it arbitrary and possibly unconstitutional.
Amid the political uproar, the Supreme Court has stepped in, urging the ECI to consider Aadhaar, ration cards, and voter IDs as valid proofs of identity while also agreeing to review whether the exercise could potentially result in widespread disenfranchisement. With Assembly elections also approaching in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry in 2026, this voter verification drive could set a precedent for future electoral reforms. However, the controversy continues to deepen the divide between the ruling establishment and the opposition in Bihar, further intensifying the political atmosphere ahead of what promises to be a heated election season.
