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Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claims Bihar assembly election results follow the “Maharashtra pattern,” as early trends show BJP-led NDA securing a landslide victory and opposition alliances falling short.

Bihar poll outcome not shocking, it's like 'Maharashtra pattern', says Raut; alleges EC-BJP nexus

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claims Bihar assembly election results follow the &ldquo;Maharashtra pattern,&rdquo; as early trends show BJP-led NDA securing a landslide victory and opposition alliances falling short.

With trends suggesting a big win for the NDA in Bihar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday claimed the assembly election results were not shocking as the Election Commission and BJP worked hand in hand to carry out their "national agenda".
He also said the Bihar election results followed the "pattern" of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, in which the ruling Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP registered a thumping victory.
The BJP-led NDA appeared to register a landslide victory in Bihar, opening up impressive leads in more than 180 of the state's 243 assembly seats, with early trends also indicating that the saffron party was on track to post its biggest tally.
In a post on X, Raut claimed the results followed the "Maharashtra pattern", a reference to the 2024 election results where the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was wiped out.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
बिहाराच्या विधानसभा निवडणुका निकालाने धक्का बसण्याची गरज नाही निवडणूक आयोग आणि बी जे पी यांचे हातात हात घालून जे राष्ट्रीय कार्य सुरू होते ते पाहता यापेक्षा वेगळा निकाल लागणे शक्य नव्हते! एकदम महाराष्ट्र पॅटर्न! जी आघाडी सत्तेवर येणार याची खात्री होती त्याना ५० च्या आत संपवले!
&mdash; Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) <a href="https://twitter.com/rautsanjay61/status/1989232619935134092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"There is no need to be shocked by the Bihar Assembly election results. Looking at the national agenda being carried out hand-in-hand by the Election Commission and the BJP, a different outcome than this was simply not possible. This is exactly like the Maharashtra pattern," he said.
Raut further alleged that the alliance which was expected to come to power "has been pushed below 50 seats", he said.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has become a political flashpoint, with BJP calling it a transparency measure and TMC accusing it of targeting voters.

West Bengal's Electoral Roll Revision Sparks Political Tensions

West Bengal Electoral Roll Revision Tensions

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has become a political flashpoint, with BJP calling it a transparency measure and TMC accusing it of targeting voters.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, set to begin in West Bengal on Tuesday, has snowballed into a political flashpoint, with the BJP and the Election Commission touting it as a bid to ensure transparency and the TMC gearing up for a grassroots showdown ahead of the 2026 assembly polls.
The voters' list revision would commence after a similar exercise was conducted in the state in 2002. While the BJP has welcomed the SIR as a step towards ensuring greater transparency in the electoral rolls, the ruling TMC has questioned its timing and intent, alleging that the Election Commission (EC) is acting under pressure from the saffron party to manipulate the voter list ahead of the state elections next year.
With both parties treating the SIR as a prelude to the 2026 Assembly elections, the contest has morphed into what many in political circles describe as "the battle of two forces, the administrative and the organisational".
The BJP, buoyed by the Election Commission's "proactive stance" and the possibility of central deployment, is pinning hopes on what it calls a "cleansing" of West Bengal's voter list.
The TMC, meanwhile, has activated its battle-hardened booth network, determined to ensure that no "genuine voter" is struck off the rolls.
The exercise, involving house-to-house verification by booth level officers (BLOs) from November 4 to December 4, has already turned into a flashpoint.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a rally in Kolkata on Tuesday to protest what her party calls a "politically motivated revision" aimed at disenfranchising minorities and marginalised groups.
Her nephew and TMC's national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, has called for "man-marking" of BLOs and directed the appointment of booth level agents (BLAs) across all 84,000 booths to monitor every step of the process.
In a virtual meeting with TMC leaders on Friday, Abhishek instructed that BLOs be "kept under constant watch" and that party agents accompany them during fieldwork to prevent "arbitrary deletions".
He has also ordered the setting up of war rooms in every assembly constituency, complete with data teams and communication links to coordinate the exercise. He has said that the next six months will be the "acid test" for the party's organisational machinery.
Despite the urgency, EC data till October 30 show the TMC trailing its rivals in appointing BLAs. The BJP has deployed 294 BLA-1s and 7,912 BLA-2s, while the CPI(M) has appointed 143 and 6,175, respectively.
The TMC has so far managed only 36 BLA-1s and 2,349 BLA-2s, though party insiders insist the shortfall will be bridged by Monday.
The BJP has accused the ruling party of inflating the voter rolls. Citing administrative inputs, the saffron camp claims that over 40 lakh "duplicate or fake" names existed in Bengal's rolls during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and expects the SIR to strike off at least a crore names.
"Those who thrived on ghost voters and bogus ballots are panicking," BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya claimed.
TMC leaders have responded with equally sharp warnings. Barrackpore MP Partha Bhowmik recently said that if even one "genuine voter's name" was deleted, "local BJP leaders will not be allowed to step out of their homes."
Abhishek Banerjee has threatened to bring "one lakh people from Bengal" to the EC office in Delhi if voter names are arbitrarily removed.
The BJP counters that the TMC's so-called "booth muscle" thrives under the protection of a pliant police force.
Amid this charged backdrop, the poll panel has trained over 80,000 BLOs and issued a 16-point guideline along with a mobile app to streamline operations. Training for BLAs, the party representatives who will shadow the BLOs, ends on November 3.
Yet the training has not been without hiccups. Teachers deputed as BLOs have protested being marked "absent" in school registers during training. Many have demanded central security for both training and fieldwork, citing threats and political intimidation.
"We are being sent to volatile areas without protection," a teacher said in the North 24 Parganas district.
The TMC has alleged that four people have died by suicide, fearing the loss of their voting rights, while another is hospitalised after consuming poison.
The BJP has rubbished the claims as "manufactured melodrama".
Observers see the unfolding tension as a continuation of West Bengal's political pattern, a contest not merely for votes, but for control. In both the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP relied heavily on central forces, while the TMC drew strength from its disciplined booth machinery. The results went the TMC's way both times.
"Bengal's politics has always been fought at the booth level. The SIR will test not only the integrity of the voter list but also the resilience of these two armies, one administrative, one organisational," said a Kolkata-based political scientist.
The enumeration phase will be followed by publication of the draft rolls on December 9. Objections can be filed till January 8, with the final voter list set for release on February 7, just two months before the 2026 Assembly elections expected in April-May.
As Bengal&rsquo;s politics shifts from big rallies to door-to-door visits, the focus has turned to the voter list itself. In this SIR exercise, the real battle is between who gets included or left out of the rolls, because every single name could make a difference in the final count.

The Election Commission has begun a Special Intensive Revision exercise in Uttar Pradesh to clean and update the voter list. BLOs will visit every household till December 4 under the theme ‘Shuddh Nirvachak Namavali – Majboot Loktantra’.

Special Intensive Voter List Revision Begins in Uttar Pradesh

UP Voter List Revision Exercise Starts Nov 4

The Election Commission has begun a Special Intensive Revision exercise in Uttar Pradesh to clean and update the voter list. BLOs will visit every household till December 4 under the theme &lsquo;Shuddh Nirvachak Namavali &ndash; Majboot Loktantra&rsquo;.

The Election Commission on Tuesday began the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Uttar Pradesh to clean the voter list. The exercise was launched under the theme 'Shuddh Nirvachak Namavali &ndash; Majboot Loktantra' (Clean Electoral Roll &ndash; Strong Democracy), officials said.
As part of the exercise, booth-level officers (BLOs) will visit every household from Tuesday to December 4 to verify and update voters' details, they said. The BLOs will provide voters with pre-printed forms in duplicate and assist them in filling them out.
Each voter has been requested to fill out and sign both copies of the form, affix a recent photograph, and return the form to the BLO at the earliest, the UP Chief Electoral Office (CEO) said in a statement.
Voters can also download the form online from https://voters.eci.gov.in. They may also call the helpline numbers 1950 or 1800-180-1950 for information on the exercise, it said.
According to the EC's schedule, a draft of the electoral roll will be published on December 9. The people can file claims and objections between December 9 and January 8. Hearing and disposal of claims or verification will be done between December 9 and January 31.
The final publication of the electoral roll will be on February 7, 2026. The special revision aims to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the electoral rolls ahead of future elections, officials said.

The Election Commission has launched helpline 1950 in West Bengal to clarify doubts and address complaints related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, ensuring transparency and voter confidence.

EC launches helpline to clear voters' doubts ahead of SIR in Bengal

The Election Commission has launched helpline 1950 in West Bengal to clarify doubts and address complaints related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, ensuring transparency and voter confidence.

To maintain transparency and clarify doubts among people regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the Election Commission (EC) has launched voter helpline 1950, an official said.
Citizens have been informed that they can now use the helpline, along with various state and district-level services, to raise questions and register complaints related to electoral rolls, he said.
"The SIR is a routine project under the commission's supervision. Similar exercises have been conducted in other states, including Bihar, and that no legitimate voter's name will be excluded," he said on Wednesday.
To provide additional clarity and ensure voter confidence, the EC has activated multiple help channels. "The National Contact Centre now functions as a central helpline for all states and Union territories, operating from 8 am to 8 pm daily on the toll-free number 1800-11-1950," he said, adding that trained personnel were available to assist citizens on electoral matters.
The commission has urged all eligible voters to make use of the 1950 helpline and other services to seek information, provide feedback, or report any grievances, underscoring its commitment to a transparent and inclusive electoral process.
Additionally, each state and district has been instructed to establish its own contact centres to provide fast and effective support in local languages, he said, adding that all queries and complaints are being recorded and tracked through the National Grievance Service portal.
"Citizens can also directly contact their respective Booth Level Officers (BLOs) through the ECINET platform, which allows seamless communication with election officials," he said.
The ECINET mobile application further enables voters to connect with officials, and the commission has directed all CEOs, DEOs, and EROs to ensure that complaints are addressed and resolved within 48 hours, he said.
The EC said these new services supplement existing complaint redressal mechanisms, and voters may also email their concerns to complaints@eci.gov.in if preferred.

The Election Commission clarified that the Model Code of Conduct will apply to the Central government regarding any announcements or policy decisions related to Bihar until Assembly polls conclude.

Poll code applicable to Central govt too for policy decisions on Bihar: EC

The Election Commission clarified that the Model Code of Conduct will apply to the Central government regarding any announcements or policy decisions related to Bihar until Assembly polls conclude.

The Election Commission on Wednesday said the provisions of model code of conduct are also applicable to the Central government as far as announcements and policy decisions on Bihar are concerned.
The poll code came into force immediately after the Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for the Assembly elections in Bihar on Monday.
The polls will be held on November 6 and 11, and the counting of votes will be taken up on November 14.
In a statement issued here, the EC said, "The MCC shall also be applicable to the Central government so far as announcements/policy decisions for Bihar are concerned." The poll authority also said that privacy of citizens must be respected, with no demonstrations or picketing outside private residences.
"Land, buildings, or walls shall not be used for flags, banners or posters without the owner's consent," it said.
The EC has also issued directives to the Bihar chief secretary related to the removal of defacement from government, public and private property; misuse of official vehicles or government accommodation by any political party, candidate or any other person connected with the elections; and ban on the issuance of advertisements at the cost of the public exchequer.

The Election Commission announced Bihar Assembly polls in two phases — November 6 and 11 — with counting on November 14. Over 7.43 crore voters, including 14 lakh first-timers, will decide the fate of 243 seats.

Bihar Assembly elections to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, counting on November 14

The Election Commission announced Bihar Assembly polls in two phases &mdash; November 6 and 11 &mdash; with counting on November 14. Over 7.43 crore voters, including 14 lakh first-timers, will decide the fate of 243 seats.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the schedule for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, setting the stage for an intense political showdown.&nbsp;
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, during a press briefing, confirmed that polling across the state&rsquo;s 243 constituencies will be held in two phases &mdash; on November 6 and November 11 &mdash; while votes will be counted on November 14.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🗓️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCHEDULE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SCHEDULE</a> for the GENERAL ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BIHAR 2025 - Two Phases Details 👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bihar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bihar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BiharElections2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BiharElections2025</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZeTBbpX32O">pic.twitter.com/ZeTBbpX32O</a>
&mdash; Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ECISVEEP/status/1975155050688458966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The Election Commission wants to tell voters of Bihar that we will ensure elections are conducted transparently while maintaining law and order. The total number of electors is 7.43 crore, including around 14 lakh first-time voters,&rdquo; said the Chief Election Commissioner.
The elections are expected to see a fierce multi-party contest. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar&rsquo;s Janata Dal (United) in partnership with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will seek to retain its hold on power.
Smaller NDA allies such as the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) are also gearing up to play a decisive role in their regional strongholds. Seat-sharing discussions within the alliance have been finalised in recent days.
Meanwhile, the opposition Mahagathbandhan &mdash; comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties &mdash; is focusing its campaign on key issues including youth employment, social welfare, and caste-based inclusion.

The Election Commission published the final electoral roll for Bihar after a special intensive revision, ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.

EC publishes final electoral roll in Bihar ahead of assembly polls

The Election Commission published the final electoral roll for Bihar after a special intensive revision, ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.

The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that it has come out with the "final electoral roll" in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls, taking into account all the claims and objections to the draft voters' lists, which were published as part of special intensive revision (SIR).
The Chief Electoral Officer in Bihar made the announcement on its Facebook page, tagging the Election Commission of India.
"In the light of Special Intensive Revision, the final electoral roll has been published on 30.09. 2025. People can look up their names by clicking on the link voters.eci.gov.in," said the social media post.
State-wide data was awaited on the final list.
The number of voters in the draft roll was 7.24 crore, following deletion of about 65 lakh names declared as "absent", "shifted" or "dead".
However, the Patna district administration came out with a statement declaring that the total number of voters, across 14 assembly segments under its jurisdiction, was about 48.15 lakh, which was "an increase of 1.63 lakh" when compared with the draft electoral rolls published on August 1.
The total number of female voters in the district was 22.75 lakh, and Digha constituency had the highest number of 4.56 lakh electors.
The Bihar assembly elections are likely to be announced soon, and the mammoth SIR exercise, which the EC intends to undertake across the country in due course, has stirred a controversy.
Opposition parties, some of which have moved the Supreme Court, have been alleging that SIR was aimed at the wrongful deletion of names of voters who were less likely to vote for the ruling BJP-led NDA.
However, BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have asserted that SIR was essential to flush out "infiltrators" whom the INDIA bloc allegedly wanted to protect and give voting rights.&nbsp;

The Election Commission has released names of 65 lakh voters removed from electoral rolls under the SIR exercise, following the Supreme Court’s order to make details public by August 19.

EC makes public names of 65 lakh people deleted from Bihar voter list during SIR

The Election Commission has released names of 65 lakh voters removed from electoral rolls under the SIR exercise, following the Supreme Court&rsquo;s order to make details public by August 19.

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday came out with the names of 65 lakh people who were removed from the draft electoral rolls published as part of the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise, officials said.
The development came after the Supreme Court directed the EC to publish the deleted names by August 19 and file a compliance report by August 22.
The EC is publishing the names of 'ASD' (Absentee, Shifted, and Dead) voters across polling booths, and is likely to do so online as has been directed by the apex court, they said.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Bihar, ASD lists have been displayed at polling booths in Rohtas, Begusarai, Arwal, Siwan, Bhojpur and other places.
The Supreme Court, in an order on August 14, directed the Election Commission to publish an enumerated, booth-wise list of around 65 lakh electors not included in the draft electoral roll, published on August 1, during the ongoing SIR exercise in Bihar, where assembly elections are due later this year.
More than 65 lakh enumeration forms were 'not included' in the draft electoral rolls prepared as part of the first phase of SIR by the EC in Bihar, bringing down the total number of around 7.9 crore registered voters to 7.24 crore.
Patna accounted for the highest number of 3.95 lakh non-included enumeration forms, followed by Madhubani (3.52 lakh), East Champaran (3.16 lakh), Gopalganj (3.10 lakh), Samastipur (2.83 lakh), Muzaffarpur (2.82 lakh), Purnia (2.739 lakh), Saran (2.732 lakh), Sitamarhi (2.44 lakh), Katihar (1.84 lakh), Kishanganj (1.45 lakh), according to the EC.
Sheikhpura is the district where only 26,256 enumeration forms were not included in the draft roll, followed by Sheohar (28,166), Arwal (30,180), Munger (74,916) and Khagaria (79,551).
The EC claimed that '22,34,501' people, registered in the electoral roll, were found to be dead during the exercise. Another 36.28 lakh have 'permanently shifted' out of the state or were 'not found' at their stated addresses, and another 7.01 lakh have been found enrolled at 'more than one place'.&nbsp;

INDIA Bloc leaders discuss moving an impeachment notice against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll manipulation in Bihar; EC rejects charges as baseless.

Opposition Mulls Impeachment Notice Against CEC Over Bihar Vote Issues

Opposition Considers Impeachment of CEC

INDIA Bloc leaders discuss moving an impeachment notice against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll manipulation in Bihar; EC rejects charges as baseless.

Opposition INDIA Bloc leaders met here on Monday to consider moving an impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as it stepped up it protests over voter roll revision in Bihar and alleged "vote theft."&nbsp;
Several Opposition leaders met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and held discussions on how the CEC on Sunday addressed a press conference without answering any of the questions raised by them, sources said.
Some opposition MPs felt that this fight has to be taken forward and suggested an impeachment motion against the CEC, the sources said.
They said the fight against the EC needs to be taken forward as it has not answered or cleared the doubts raised in the poll process.
Though the move is in the discussion stage, the opposition parties will meet again and crystallise this further, the sources said.
Asked about the move, Congress leader Naseer Hussain said they would use every democratic means in this regard.
"We were expecting yesterday that the Election Commission would answer and address all concerns and questions being raised by the public and would clear doubts and anomalies being pointed out by people," he said.
"The EC has not given any answers on people declared dead in electoral rolls and is acting as spokesperson of BJP and talking in the same manner as BJP spokesperson. We need a completely impartial CEC and Election Commission in the country," he said.
"We are ready to use any process in Parliamentary democracy, if need be," Hussain asserted when asked about the impeachment notice being mulled against the CEC.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi on Sunday, CEC Kumar said the electoral roll revision is aimed at removing all shortcomings in voter lists and it is a matter of grave concern that some parties are spreading misinformation about it and firing from the EC's shoulder .
The CEC rejected as "baseless" the allegations of double voting and "vote theft" and asserted that all stakeholders are working to make SIR a success in a transparent manner.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the poll body is colluding with the BJP to carry out "vote chori openly" in the name of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and asserted that he is not sacred of EC officials.
Addressing a gathering here at the end of the first day of his Voter Adhikar Yatra which began from Bihar's Sasaram, Gandhi also said while he was asked to submit an affidavit after his press conference exposing "vote chori", no such demand was made from BJP leader Anurag Thakur who made similar claims in his presser.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also alleged that the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar was a way to steal votes of the people of the state.

The EC delists 476 non-compliant parties, targeting those not contesting in six years, enhancing transparency. Affected states include UP and Maharashtra.

EC Delists 476 Non-Compliant Political Parties

The Election Commission of India delists 476 registered unrecognised political parties for non-compliance with election laws, focusing on those inactive since 2019. Affected areas include UP and Maharashtra, ensuring transparency and possible reinstatement without fresh recognition.

EC Delists 476 Political Parties

EC delists 476 political parties for failing compliance. States affected include UP, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Initiative enhances transparency, allows potential reinstatement.

In a significant move, the Election Commission of India (EC) announced on Monday that it is proceeding with the delisting of an additional 476 registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) that have failed to meet prescribed norms, including the requirement to contest at least one election in the past six years.
This latest action follows closely on the heels of the EC's previous announcement on Saturday, where the poll body delisted 334 such parties for non-compliance with electoral laws and related rules.
"This marks the second round of the initiative, with another 476 RUPPs identified across various states and Union Territories. To ensure fairness in this process, Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) in the respective states and UTs have been instructed to issue show-cause notices to these parties, offering them an opportunity for a hearing through the concerned CEOs," stated the EC in an official release.
Predominantly, the current list of parties facing delisting comprises entities from Uttar Pradesh (121), followed by Maharashtra (44), Tamil Nadu (42), and Delhi (41). Bihar, which is on the verge of Assembly elections, has 15 parties on the list.
Since 2001, the Election Commission has embarked on several rounds of removing defunct RUPPs, this being the third or fourth such instance.
Although the Supreme Court barred the EC from "derecognising" political parties, citing the absence of a legal provision for such action, the commission has opted for "delisting" instead. Importantly, parties removed from the list can potentially be reinstated by the EC without the necessity of undergoing the fresh recognition process.
EC officials have highlighted past violations of income tax provisions and the anti-money laundering law by some RUPPs.
Under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the EC registers political parties&mdash;encompassing national, state, or registered unrecognised entities&mdash;granting them various privileges, including tax exemptions.
This strategic measure targets removing parties that haven't contested elections to the Lok Sabha, state or UT legislatures, or byelections since 2019, and those that have been elusive in terms of physical presence, as noted by the EC.

The Election Commission has announced that the Vice Presidential election will be held on September 9. The last date to file nominations is August 21.

Vice Presidential election on September 9, EC issues schedule

The Election Commission has announced that the Vice Presidential election will be held on September 9. The last date to file nominations is August 21.

The election for the post of Vice President will be held on September 9, the poll authority announced on Friday.
The notification for the vice presidential election will be issued on August 7 and the last date for filing nomination papers will be August 21.
The results of the election will be announced on the polling day -- September 9 -- itself, the Election Commission said.
The post of the vice president fell vacant after the resignation of incumbent Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 22.

The Election Commission has released Bihar's draft electoral rolls after a month-long revision ahead of the state polls. Voters can now file claims and objections.

Bihar's Draft Electoral Rolls Published Ahead of Assembly Elections

Bihar Draft Electoral Rolls Released for Elections

The Election Commission has released Bihar's draft electoral rolls after a month-long revision ahead of the state polls. Voters can now file claims and objections.

The Election Commission (EC) on Friday published the draft electoral rolls for Bihar, following the completion of the month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.
No compiled list was made available, but voters can check their names on the EC's website.
There were 7.93 crore registered voters in the state before the SIR began in June, according to the EC.
It is yet to be known how many voters are in the just-published draft rolls.
Printouts of the rolls will be made available to representatives of various political parties later in the day, officials said.
The publication of the draft rolls kicked off the process of "claims and objections", which would continue till September 1. During this period, voters with complaints of wrongful deletion of names can approach the authorities concerned, seeking a remedy.
Assembly elections would be due in the state later this year.
In the first stage of SIR, voters were provided with "enumeration forms", either by booth-level officers (BLO) or booth-level agents (BLA) nominated by political parties, which they were to return after putting their signatures and appending documents acceptable as proof of identity.
People also had the option of downloading and submitting these enumeration forms online.
The process was over by July 25 and, according to the EC, "7.23 crore voters" submitted their enumeration forms, while 35 lakh were found to have "permanently migrated or gone untraceable".
Another 22 lakh have been reported to be deceased, while 7 lakh people were registered as voters in more than one electoral roll.
The EC also claimed that enumeration forms were not submitted by 1.2 lakh voters.
The mammoth exercise was carried out by BLOs deputed across 77,895 polling centres, assisted by 1.60 lakh BLAs and other volunteers, under the supervision of 243 EROs (Electors Registration Officers) and 2,976 Assistant EROs.
The opposition parties criticised the exercise, alleging that it was undertaken to "help" the ruling NDA in the upcoming polls. Petitions were also filed against it in the Supreme Court, which said earlier this week that the SIR should result in "en masse inclusion and not en masse exclusion". PTI

EC to publish Bihar draft rolls post voter verification; claims and objections open till Sept 1 amid opposition concerns.

EC to release Bihar draft electoral rolls amidst voter exclusion concerns

EC to publish Bihar draft rolls post voter verification; claims and objections open till Sept 1 amid opposition concerns.

The Election Commission (EC) is all set to publish the draft electoral rolls for Bihar on Friday following the completion of a month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.
This would also kick off the process of "claims and objections", which would continue till September 1, and during the period, voters with complaints of wrongful deletion of names can approach the authorities concerned seeking a remedy.
The EC claims there were 7.93 crore registered voters in the state before the SIR began late last month.
The process has faced criticism and protests from the opposition, with concerns over potential mass deletion of voters.
In the first stage of SIR, voters were provided with "enumeration forms", either by booth-level officers (BLO) or booth-level agents (BLA) nominated by political parties, which they were to return after putting their signatures and appending documents acceptable as proof of identity.
People also had the option of downloading and submitting these enumeration forms online.
The process was over by July 25 and, according to the EC, "7.23 crore voters" submitted their enumeration forms, while 35 lakh were found to have "permanently migrated or gone untraceable".
Another 22 lakh have been reported to be deceased, while seven lakh people were registered as voters in more than one electoral roll.
The EC also claimed that enumeration forms were not submitted by 1.2 lakh voters.
The mammoth exercise was carried out by BLOs deputed across 77,895 polling centres, assisted by 1.60 lakh BLAs and other volunteers, under the supervision of 243 EROs (Electors Registration Officers) and 2,976 Assistant EROs.
Critics of the exercise, who felt it was being undertaken to "help" the ruling NDA in the upcoming polls, which the JD(U)-BJP combine will face with an incumbency of 20 years, moved the Supreme Court, which said earlier this week that the SIR should result in "en masse inclusion and not en masse exclusion".
Earlier, political leaders such as CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, who is also one of the petitioners who moved the Supreme Court, had voiced concerns that the ruling dispensation would try to play its "the real game" during the claims and objections phase, with the help of "empowered" but pliant EROs and AEROs.
Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, recently created a flutter by threatening to "boycott" the upcoming elections if concerns were not addressed squarely.

The Election Commission has appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody as returning officer for the 2025 vice presidential election after Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation.

EC Appoints P C Mody as Returning Officer for VP Election

Rajya Sabha secretary general appointed returning officer for vice presidential poll

The Election Commission has appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody as returning officer for the 2025 vice presidential election after Jagdeep Dhankhar&rsquo;s resignation.

The Election Commission on Friday appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody as the returning officer for the election to the office of the vice president.
The election was necessitated after Jagdeep Dhankhar's surprise resignation as vice president on Monday evening, citing health issues.
In a statement, the Election Commission (EC) said that in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha, it has appointed Mody as the returning officer for the vice presidential election, 2025.
The EC has also appointed Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, as assistant returning officers during the course of the election.

Following Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation, the Election Commission has begun forming the electoral college and finalising returning officers for the upcoming vice presidential election.

EC begins preparations to hold vice presidential poll

Following Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation, the Election Commission has begun forming the electoral college and finalising returning officers for the upcoming vice presidential election.

The Election Commission on Wednesday said it has begun the process of holding the vice presidential election, two days after Jagdeep Dhankhar's surprise resignation from the post.
The poll authority said it has started constituting the electoral college comprising MPs of both Houses of Parliament. Both elected and nominated members are eligible to vote in the vice presidential election.
It is also finalising the returning officer and assistant returning officers.
"On completion of the preparatory activities, the announcement of the election schedule to the office of the Vice President of India will follow as soon as possible," the EC said.
Dhankhar stepped down as vice president on Monday, citing health reasons. His term was to end on August 10, 2027.
The Union home ministry on Tuesday formally notified the resignation of Dhankhar from the office of the vice president.
According to Clause 2 of Article 68 of the Constitution, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the vice president occurring due to his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise, will be held "as soon as possible" after it goes vacant.
The person elected to fill the vacancy will be entitled to hold office "for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office".
From the day the notification is issued, "calling the electoral college to vote", and till the day of the poll, a period of 30 days is stipulated.
A person cannot be elected as the vice president unless he is a citizen of India, has completed 35 years of age and is qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
A person is also not eligible if he holds any office of profit under the government of India or a state government or any subordinate local authority.
The ruling NDA has a comfortable edge in the vice presidential elections.
The vice president is elected by the members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, where nominated members of the Upper House are also eligible to cast their vote.
The 543-member Lok Sabha has one vacant seat -- Basirhat in West Bengal -- while there are five vacancies in the 245-member Rajya Sabha.
Of the five vacancies in the Rajya Sabha, four are from Jammu and Kashmir, and one from Punjab. The seat from Punjab was vacated after AAP leader Sanjeev Arora quit following his election to the state assembly in a bypoll last month.
The effective strength of both the Houses together is 786 and the winning candidate will require 394 votes, considering that all eligible voters exercise their franchise.
In the Lok Sabha, the BJP-led NDA enjoys the support of 293 of the 542 members. The ruling alliance has the support of 129 members in the Rajya Sabha, assuming that the nominated members vote in support of the NDA nominee, which has an effective strength of 240.
The ruling alliance has the support of 422 members.
Article 66 (1) of the Constitution provides that the vice presidential election shall be held in accordance with the system of Proportional Representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
In this system, the elector has to mark preferences against the names of the candidates.
The vice president is the second highest constitutional office in the country. He serves for a five-year term, but can continue to be in office, irrespective of the expiry of the term, until the successor assumes office.

Supreme Court questions Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of Bihar’s voter list, raising concerns over timing and Aadhaar exclusion.

SC says ECI's roll revision drive mandated in Constitution, but questions timing

Supreme Court questions Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of Bihar&rsquo;s voter list, raising concerns over timing and Aadhaar exclusion.

The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Election Commission of India on the timing of the Special Intensive Revision drive in poll-bound Bihar saying it went to the "root of democracy and power to vote" while rejecting the argument that the poll panel did not have any power to carry it out.
The ECI also justified the exercise and said Aadhaar wasn't a "proof of citizenship".
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi questioned Dwivedi over the exclusion of Aadhaar card in the SIR drive in Bihar and said the ECI had nothing to do with citizenship of a person and it was the Ministry of Home Affairs' domain.
Dwivedi responded while referring to Article 326 of the Constitution and said every voter has to be an Indian citizen and "Aadhaar card is not proof of citizenship".
Justice Dhulia said, &ldquo;If you are to check citizenship under SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, then you should have acted early; it is a bit late.&rdquo; The bench, in the meantime, rejected the submission of the petitioners&rsquo; counsel that the ECI did not have power to conduct any such exercise in Bihar for it was mandated under the Constitution and the last such exercise happened in 2003.
While referring to the petitioners' contentions, the bench said the ECI had to answer three questions as the SIR exercise in Bihar went to "root of democracy and power to vote".
The questions of the petitioners, including political parties and their leaders aside from civil society members and organisations, deal with the ECI's power to conduct such an exercise and its timing.
Dwivedi said with passage of time, electoral rolls need to be revised to look into inclusion or exclusion of voter names with the SIR being the one exercise to do it.
He asked if the ECI did not have the power to revise the electoral roll then who did.
The poll panel, however, assured the top court of not leaving out anyone from the voter list without an opportunity to be heard.
Earlier in the day, the top court commenced hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission's decision to undertake a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for one of the petitioners, said the revision of electoral rolls can be permitted under the Representation of People Act.
The entire SIR will cover around 7.9 crore citizens, he said, and even the voter ID and Aadhaar cards are not being considered.
Over 10 petitions have been filed in the SC, including one by NGO 'Association for Democratic Reforms', the lead petitioner.
RJD MP Manoj Jha and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Congress' K C Venugopal, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, CPI leader D Raja, Samajwadi Party's Harinder Singh Malik, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant, JMM's Sarfraz Ahmed and Dipankar Bhattacharya of CPI (ML) have also moved the top court, seeking direction for quashing the EC order.&nbsp;

The TMC accuses EC of bias in awarding a webcasting service tender, favoring a Gujarat company and sidelining local startups for the West Bengal bypoll.

TMC Alleges Bias in The Tender Process of EC

TMC accuses the EC of bias in webcasting tender, favoring a Gujarat firm over local startups. Calls for review citing transparency issues.

TMC accuses EC of tender bias for West Bengal bypoll, favoring a Gujarat firm over local startups. They urge the Chief Election Commissioner to review the process, citing transparency concerns.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday alleged irregularities in the Election Commission&rsquo;s (EC) tender process for webcasting services for the upcoming Kaliaganj bypoll in West Bengal on June 19.
Senior TMC leader and minister Chandrima Bhattacharya claimed a Gujarat-based company was awarded the tender in a non-transparent manner, not just for the bypoll but also for the entire 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
"This proves that the tender process was not transparent," she told a press meet here.
TMC leader and minister Firhad Hakim, raising the issue during zero hour in the Assembly, questioned why local startups from Bengal were overlooked despite submitting bids.
Speaking to reporters later, Hakim demanded an explanation from the Chief Electoral Officer&rsquo;s office, accusing it of misusing taxpayer money.
In a letter to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner, the TMC said, "The noble intention of webcasting - a critical measure to ensure continuous live streaming of polling activities both inside and outside the booths - appears to have been marred by procedural anomalies and restrictive conditions." "It is reliably learnt that the tender for Kaliganj appears to be unduly restrictive and contrary to the spirit of open competition. As a result, only three agencies could qualify. More concerning is the reported selection of an agency from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which quoted a higher financial bid compared to others, and yet it was awarded the contract on the basis of a technical evaluation process that seems to favour a predetermined outcome," the letter said.
"It is disheartening to note that agencies with a proven track record - having successfully delivered webcasting services in previous elections in accordance with EC norms - have been unfairly sidelined. These agencies, which have consistently demonstrated capacity and compliance, appear to have been denied a level playing field to upgrade and adapt to future challenges," the letter said.
Apprehending this might compromise competitive neutrality in future, the letter urges the CEC to "take urgent and appropriate steps to review the entire selection process".

The EC has revised its voter card delivery to 15 days. New IT systems, real-time tracking, and SMS updates optimize the process while ensuring data security.

EC Reduces Voter Card Delivery Time to 15 Days

With a new SOP, the Election Commission cut voter identity card delivery time to 15 days, enabling real-time tracking and transparent, efficient service.

The EC has reduced the voter card delivery time to 15 days, with real-time tracking, SMS updates, and an efficient IT system, enhancing transparency and data security.

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday said voter identity cards will now be delivered to electors within 15 days, virtually halving the time taken.
Till now, it took a little over a month for the Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to be delivered to the voters, officials pointed out.
The EC said a new standard operating procedure (SOP) has been introduced to ensure that voter cards are delivered within 15 days of new enrolment of an elector or change in particulars of an existing voter.
The new system will ensure real-time tracking of each stage right from the EPIC generation by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) till the delivery of the card to the elector through the Department of Posts (DoP), the poll authority said.
The electors will also receive notifications via SMS at each stage, keeping them informed about the status of their EPIC, it noted.
For this purpose, the EC has introduced a dedicated IT module on its recently launched ECINet platform.
The new IT platform will replace the existing process by re-engineering the current system and streamlining the workflow.
The DoP's Application Programme Interface (API) will be integrated with the ECINet for seamless delivery, the EC said.
This initiative aims to enhance service delivery while maintaining data security. In the past four months, the Commission has taken various initiatives for the benefit of electors and other stakeholders.

The Election Commission adopts automation for post-election reporting, improving speed and accuracy. The 'index card' offers detailed constituency-level insights.

Election Commission Automates Reporting

The Election Commission's new automated reporting system enhances accuracy and speed. The 'index card' format provides detailed constituency insights.

The Election Commission has implemented an automated system for post-election reporting, enhancing accuracy and speed. The new 'index card' format offers detailed insights at the constituency level.

The Election Commission on Thursday said it has streamlined its system to generate various post-poll statistical reports by an upgraded mechanism which replaces the traditional time-consuming manual methods prone to delays.
By leveraging automation and data integration, the new system ensures faster reporting, it said.
The 'index card' is a non-statutory, post-election statistical reporting format developed as a suo moto initiative by the poll panel to promote accessibility of poll-related data at the constituency level.
Designed to disseminate data across multiple dimensions -- candidates, electors, votes polled, votes counted, party-wise and candidate-wise vote share, gender-based voting patterns, regional variations, and performance of political parties --the index card forms the foundation for generating about 35 statistical reports for Lok Sabha elections and 14 for assembly polls.
So far this information was manually filled at the constituency level using various statutory formats in physical index cards. The physical index cards were subsequently used for data entry into the online system to create statistical reports.
The manual, multi-layered process was time-consuming and frequently led to delays in data availability and dissemination.

The Election Commission investigates dual voter ID allegations involving Koel Majumdar, wife of BJP Minister. IDs found under different names in separate locations due to communication gaps.

EC Probes Wife of the minister Dual Voter ID

Allegations against Koel Majumdar, wife of BJP Minister Sukanta Majumdar, have prompted an EC investigation into dual voter IDs. IDs registered under different names and locations, pointing to communication issues.

EC investigates dual voter ID allegations involving Koel Majumdar

The Election Commission is investigating dual voter ID allegations involving Koel Majumdar, wife of BJP's Sukanta Majumdar. IDs under different names exist in separate locations. Form miscommunication cited as cause.

The Election Commission (EC) has started an investigation into a complaint alleging that the wife of the president of West Bengal BJP and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar possesses two voter identity cards, a senior official said on Friday.
The initial probe found that the minister&rsquo;s wife, Koel Majumdar, holds two voter ID cards with different EPIC numbers &mdash; one registered in Balurghat and another in Jalpaiguri.
While one card was issued under her maiden name, Koel Chowdhury, the second was created after her marriage under the name Koel Majumdar.
"This could have been avoided had she submitted Form 18. It is the responsibility of the cardholder to notify the EC of any changes. In this particular case, the commission was actually not informed," the official stated.
He further explained that a new voter card was issued in Balurghat after she submitted the Form 6.
"Because the EPIC numbers and surnames were different, the error was not immediately detected. We are now verifying the photographs and other personal details to confirm the identity," he added.
The state's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, has asked the district magistrates of Jalpaiguri and South Dinajpur to file a report on the matter as quickly as possible, EC sources said.

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