Opposition accuses EC of Bihar SIR irregularities; impeachment moves

A political confrontation over alleged vote manipulation has surged as opposition parties accuse the Election Commission of India of irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, especially in Bihar, while the Commission and its backers deny the charges. The dispute has unfold­ed through high-profile public statements, a rare press briefing by the Chief Election Commissioner, and moves in Parliament that could test the independence and accountability of the country’s election watchdog.

The controversy centers on the Bihar SIR process, which runs parallel to the general revision of rolls. Officials say the exercise, conducted over June and July, aimed to clean and correct voter lists with input from stakeholders. The Election Commission published a draft list, which the body says reflected deletions for dead voters, duplicates, and those who had migrated. Critics, led by the Congress, contend the deletions and additions amount to manipulation of the rolls, potentially undermining voters’ rights. The issue gained urgency after the Supreme Court directed the EC to publish the details of the 65 lakh deletions along with reasons and to publicize the...