Farooq Abdullah Slams Bihar Electoral Roll Revision as Anti-Constitutional

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday branded the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar as “anti-constitutional,” accusing the ECI of undermining democratic rights to appease political masters. Speaking to reporters in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, during a party event, Abdullah raised concerns about the feasibility of the exercise for Bihar’s 1.5 crore migrant workers.

“How will 1.5 crore Biharis working outside their state fill these forms? How will they vote? Where will they get certificates for deceased parents?” Abdullah questioned, highlighting the logistical barriers faced by migrants. He argued that the SIR, which requires voters not listed in the 2003 electoral roll to submit documents proving citizenship and residency, violates the Constitution’s guarantee of universal adult suffrage, as envisioned by B.R. Ambedkar and later amended to include citizens aged 18 and above.

The ECI, on June 24, 2025, initiated the SIR in Bihar, citing rapid urbanization, migration, new voters, unreported deaths, and the inclusion of illegal immigrants as reasons to update the voter list, last revised intensively in 2003. With Bihar’s Assembly elections due by November 2025, the process involves door-to-door surveys by 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to collect enumeration forms, with a deadline of July 25, 2025, for submissions. The final roll will be published on September 30, 2025.

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Abdullah warned that the SIR could disenfranchise millions, particularly marginalized communities, and spark widespread protests. “If they push this through, there will be an agitation to save the Constitution, bigger than before,” he said, urging the ECI to safeguard democratic principles. The controversy, echoed by INDIA bloc leaders and challenged in the Supreme Court, has intensified fears that the revision may exclude genuine voters, especially the poor and migrants, ahead of the crucial polls.

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