Fri Aug 01 16:29:54 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:
**The Hindu: Bihar Voter Rolls Shrink by 6.5 Million, Sparking Opposition Outcry**
**New Delhi – August 1, 2025** – A significant drop in the number of registered voters in Bihar has ignited a political firestorm, with opposition parties alleging a “backdoor” attempt to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC). According to the draft electoral roll published by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday, the state’s voter count has decreased by a staggering 6.5 million, from 7.89 crore to 7.24 crore, following the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
The ECI has urged eligible voters to verify their inclusion in the draft list, available on the ECI portal, and to submit Form 6, along with a declaration, if their names are missing. Booth-wise lists have been distributed to political parties across the state’s 90,712 polling booths. The commission also encouraged young voters who have or will turn 18 by October 1st to register.
Over the next month, the ECI will accept claims and objections regarding inclusions and exclusions from August 1 to September 1. While the names included are of all those who filled up the enumeration forms. They are still required to submit proof of residence and birth using a list of 11 acceptable documents; neither Aadhaar nor voter ID cards are on the list.
However, the SIR has been met with fierce resistance from opposition parties, including Congress, JMM, and DMK, who staged protests at Parliament on Friday. Led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party MP Priyanka Gandhi, JMM MP Mahua Majhi, DMK MP A Raja along with others, the INDIA bloc MPs, they have accused the ECI of implementing the NRC through the SIR process. They have challenged the exercise in the Supreme Court, which has suggested the ECI reconsider the use of Aadhaar and Voter ID cards as valid proof. The next hearing is scheduled for August 12th.
The ECI credited its officials at the state and district level, including Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and volunteers, as well as the Booth Level Agents of major political parties, for their work in the first phase of the SIR.
The controversy surrounding the Bihar voter rolls raises serious questions about electoral integrity and transparency ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections. The situation remains fluid, with the Supreme Court hearing looming and political tensions running high.
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