Bihar Voter List Revision: Magadh Region Gains Voters While Seemanchal Faces Highest Deletions

The final electoral list for Bihar has been released following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision process.

New Delhi:

In Bihar's recently published voter list, the Magadh region (including Patna) has recorded the highest voter addition rate, while the minority-dominated Seemanchal region has experienced the most significant voter deletion rate during the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

The Election Commission published the final voter list yesterday after completing a revision process that generated considerable political controversy. The commission expressed gratitude to voters, political parties, and other stakeholders for their participation.

The finalized list contains 7.42 crore eligible voters - an increase of 18 lakh from the 7.24 crore in the draft list, but 47 lakh fewer than the 7.89 crore names prior to the revision. Opposition parties had previously voiced concerns about potential large-scale voter deletions during this Special Intensive Revision, allegations that the Election Commission firmly rejected.

Seemanchal has registered the highest voter deletion rate (7.7 percent) among Bihar's key regions. This area comprises Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar, and Araria districts, with an average Muslim population of 48 percent. While Bihar's average deletion rate was 5.9 percent, these four districts reported substantially higher figures - Kishanganj at 9.69 percent, Purnia at 8.41 percent, Katihar at 7.12 percent, and Araria at 5.6 percent. Voter additions in Seemanchal stood at 2.4 percent, comparable to Bihar's overall addition rate of 2.3 percent.

During the 2020 Assembly elections, the RJD-Congress alliance secured 7 of Seemanchal's 24 seats, while the NDA won 12, and AIMIM claimed 5. Four AIMIM MLAs subsequently switched to RJD.

Gopalganj district recorded the highest voter deletions statewide, with 12.13 percent of names removed during the revision. This district is RJD leader Lalu Yadav's home territory. In the 2020 Assembly elections, the NDA won four of its six Assembly seats, with Mahagathbandhan taking the remaining two.

The Magadh region achieved the highest voter addition rate in Bihar. Comprising seven districts, Magadh recorded an average voter increase of 2.6 percent. Patna led with a 3.4 percent voter addition - equivalent to 1.6 lakh new voters.

In the 2020 Bihar elections, Mahagathbandhan dominated Magadh, winning 30 out of 47 seats, while the NDA secured only 17. The NDA also underperformed in this region during the Lok Sabha election.

As election preparations continue, the BJP is concentrating efforts on Magadh seats to improve their performance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Gaya and initiated development projects worth Rs 12,000 crore, highlighting the NDA's strategic focus on this region.

The publication of the final voter list has reignited political debates. BJP leader Amit Malviya criticized Congress, claiming they failed to file any complaints regarding voter list inclusions or deletions. "This exposes Rahul Gandhi's disingenuous politics. His Yatra wasn't about democracy; it was about misleading people and shielding illegal migrants. A direct threat to India's national security," Malviya stated, referring to Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar.

Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram countered that the Special Intensive Revision was fundamentally flawed. "It was a process neither demanded by the public nor by political parties. Despite this, it was conducted with such carelessness and lack of transparency. Its fairness and transparency remain questionable," he asserted.