India Bloc Claims 5,000 UP Voters in Bihar Rolls
INDIA bloc alleges voter fraud; Election Commission refutes claims.
The INDIA bloc, comprising Congress and RJD, dropped a bombshell alleging that over 5,000 residents of Uttar Pradesh have been illicitly added to the electoral rolls of Bihar’s Valmiki Nagar assembly segment in West Champaran district. The accusation, leveled during a press conference in Phulparas, Madhubani, by Congress national general secretary Randeep Surjewala and RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, suggests a deliberate move by the Election Commission to favor the ruling NDA.
The opposition leaders pointed to the case of Chhedi Ram, a 45-year-old voter from Khadda constituency in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district, whose name allegedly appeared in Bihar’s draft electoral rolls. They claimed this was part of a broader pattern involving thousands of “doubtful” voters, raising concerns about electoral integrity as the state gears up for polls.
However, the West Champaran district administration swiftly debunked these allegations in a strongly worded statement shared by the Chief Electoral Officer’s office. The administration clarified that the electoral roll in question, published on August 1, 2025, is merely a draft, designed to invite claims and objections to rectify errors like duplications. “The figure of over 5,000 doubtful voters is an imaginary claim, unsupported by evidence,” the statement asserted, dismissing the opposition’s accusations as baseless.
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The administration further explained that voter list discrepancies in Valmiki Nagar often arise due to geographical shifts, such as changes in river courses, which force residents to relocate and inadvertently lead to multiple registrations. They emphasized that the ongoing special intensive revision aims to eliminate such errors. In Chhedi Ram’s case, the administration noted that he had already applied to have his name removed from the Uttar Pradesh rolls, further undermining the opposition’s narrative.
The controversy has sparked heated debates, with the INDIA bloc insisting on vigilance to protect the electoral process, while the Election Commission and local authorities maintain that the system is robust and transparent. As Bihar heads toward the polls, this clash over voter rolls underscores the high stakes and intense scrutiny surrounding the state’s electoral integrity.
