Mahua Moitra challenges EC's voter list revision in Bihar, cites threat to democracy

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of India's move to conduct a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. She criticized the process as a threat to democratic rights, accusing the poll body of attempting to disenfranchise millions of voters, especially migrant and poor individuals.

Moitra highlighted that the SIR introduces 11 new documents as proof of eligibility, excluding commonly used IDs like Aadhaar or ration cards. She argued that this requirement could disenfranchise a significant number of people in Bihar and potentially in other states as well.

Moitra's petition, filed under Article 32, aims to halt similar directives by the ECI in other states. The revision, initiated on June 24 in Bihar, aims to remove ineligible and non-resident voters, including illegal immigrants.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar defended the revision, stating that concerns raised by political parties in Bihar about inaccuracies in the voters' list prompted the EC to take action. The process is scheduled to continue until July 25, involving over one lakh booth-level officers.