Wed Sep 24 05:18:06 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Bihar’s Voter List Revision Sparks Disenfranchisement Fears, Left Alleges**
**Kolkata, September 24, 2025** – A prominent Left leader is raising alarms about Bihar’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, claiming it could lead to mass disenfranchisement and electoral fraud. Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation, a part of Bihar’s Grand Alliance, likened the process to “demonetization,” accusing the Election Commission (EC) of overstepping its bounds and violating the principle of universal adult franchise.
Bhattacharya alleges that the EC is improperly demanding proof of citizenship from voters, a first in 75 years of Indian democracy. He estimates that the SIR could affect up to two crore voters, with 65 lakh names already deleted and three lakh voters served notices. He points out that none of the deletions involved “foreign infiltrators” as alleged by the BJP, discrediting their narrative.
The CPI(ML) Liberation claims its campaign in Bihar forced the EC to backtrack on certain initial requirements, including mandatory submission of photographs and documents, as well as premature deletion lists. However, the party remains concerned about the final voter list being prepared behind closed doors.
Bhattacharya claims that the SIR is disproportionately affecting women, Muslims, and migrant communities due to demands for legacy documents and biases in the process of voter deletion.
Looking ahead, the Left leader warns that other states, particularly West Bengal, could face similar challenges. He emphasized the need for a third political force in West Bengal to prevent a BJP-TMC duopoly, advocating for a broad Left front to provide a real alternative. Bhattacharya also commented on Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party stating that although well resourced, it is unlikley to make a major impact on the upcoming elections.
First Piper 