The Opposition’s row over the Intensive Special Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is a classic case of pronouncing guilt on mere suspicion. The way a constitutional authority like the Election Commission has been accused of working to ensure the ruling NDA’s victory in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections is a sad commentary on the Opposition’s intent.

The EC has confirmed that nearly 65 lakh names have been deleted from the electoral roll. Among them, 22.34 lakh are deceased, 36.28 lakh have migrated out of their constituencies, and 7.01 lakh were registered in more than one constituency.

The names of the dead or migrants are rarely deleted. Media reports earlier suggested Bihar had the highest number of centenarians among voters. Bihar is no Japan, where living past 100 is common. This indicated that many who were long dead were still alive on paper.

Migrants often enrol as voters where they live but don’t get their names deleted from their home constituencies. I can say this with authority. Until recently, I didn’t know that despite being a Delhi voter, I was also enrolled in Bihar. I left Bihar in the early 1980s and never registered there. Apparently, someone in my extended family gave my name, and it was never verified.........

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