Fri Aug 01 17:23:17 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text and a news article rewrite:
**Summary:**
Political analyst Yogendra Yadav criticizes the Election Commission’s draft voter list for Bihar, expressing concern over the deletion of 6.5 million names and the potential for further deletions based on “not recommended” status and document submission failures. He argues the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is unconstitutional, shifting the burden of proof of citizenship onto voters and potentially altering the foundation of universal adult franchise in India. He also criticizes the EC for not making the list of deleted names public, hindering comparison with previous lists.
**News Article:**
**Bihar Voter List Sparks Controversy: Analyst Alleges Unconstitutional Practices**
**New Delhi, August 1, 2025** – The release of Bihar’s draft voter list by the Election Commission (EC) has drawn sharp criticism from political analyst Yogendra Yadav, founder of Swaraj Abhiyan. While the list includes 7.24 crore voters, Yadav expressed disappointment over the EC’s failure to release the 6.5 million names removed from the rolls.
Speaking to The Hindu, Yadav raised concerns about potential further deletions under categories like “not recommended by the Booth Level Officer,” and those who fail to submit documents within a month. “65 lakh is just the beginning,” he warned, suggesting that objections could lead to even more voters being removed.
Yadav also pointed out that while the proportion of voters in Muslim-concentrated districts like Purnia and Kishanganj was slightly below the state average, it was not dramatically so.
A key point of contention is the EC’s “Special Intensive Revision (SIR)” exercise. Yadav slammed it as “absolutely unconstitutional,” arguing that it shifts the burden of proof onto voters, presuming non-citizenship and undermining the principle of universal adult franchise.
He further criticized the EC for not releasing the list of deleted names to the public, accusing them of concealing information. “The list conceals more than it reveals,” he stated, making it difficult to compare with previous lists.
Yadav has urged the EC to scrap the SIR exercise immediately, claiming it fundamentally alters the architecture of India’s universal adult franchise. The debate over the voter list is likely to intensify as Bihar prepares for the upcoming assembly elections.
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