Intensive revision is happening right before a critical election; it is forcing the poorest people to magically come up with documents that most won’t have. The purpose seems to be to make them powerless, Owaisi said.
Published Jul 13, 2025 | 10:41 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 13, 2025 | 10:41 PM
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.
Synopsis: Reports, quoting unidentified ECI sources said BLOs found a large number of foreign nationals living in Bihar. Politicians questioned ECI’s authority to determine the citizenship of voters.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM ) national president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday, 13 July, questioned the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s authority to determine the citizenship of voters.
He raised the question on an X post after news reports quoted an unidentified “ECI sources”, saying that Booth Level Officers had found a large number of people from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar in Bihar.
“Their names shall not be included in the final list to be published on 20 September after proper enquiry is conducted after 1 August,” the report quoted the source.
The report came amidst the ECI’s controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) move ahead of the Assembly polls in Bihar. The issue is now under the consideration of the Supreme Court.
“It’s embarrassing that a constitutional body is communicating with the public through sources,” Owaisi posted on X. He asked the ECI spokesperson to clarify who had given the panel the power to determine the citizenship of voters.
“This ‘intensive revision’ is happening right before a critical election; it is forcing the poorest people to magically come up with documents that most won’t have. The purpose seems to be to make them powerless,” the MP from Telangana added.
Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, too, demanded to know the sources. Taking a jibe, he said, “These are the same sources that said Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, have been captured”.
“Ye sootra ko hum mootra samajhte hai (We see this source as filth),” he added.
The former deputy chief minister of Bihar also held the Union government responsible if the names of any dubious elements had been included in the electoral rolls.
Stating that the previous SIR was held during the UPA government’s rule in 2003, he said the BJP had won the 2014, 2019, and 20234 elections. “Does that mean all these foreigners voted for PM Modi?” he asked.
“This means that the NDA is at fault for any dubious elements … all the elections they have won have been a fraud,” he added.
Owaisi’s comments found traction on X with several users supporting him. “The poorest, migrants, minorities or tribal communities, then the process isn’t just bureaucratic — it is political. It weaponises administration to exclude voices rather than include them,” a user observed.
Agreeing with Owaisi, another user noted that transparency and accountability from constitutional bodies are non-negotiable. “Voter suppression in the name of revision disproportionately hurts the most vulnerable. This needs to be called out and clear,” the user exhorted.
There was opposition to Owaisi’s observation, as well, mostly from right-wing X handles.
Meanwhile, the ECI is set to carry out the SIR across India next year.
