The Election Commission’s announcement of the Bihar Assembly elections has finally ended weeks of speculation. The 243 constituencies will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting scheduled for November 14. By-elections to eight constituencies across seven states will also be held.

Yet, the focus is not on the schedule but on the process that preceded it—the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has triggered more doubts than confidence. Ordinarily, Bihar should have had 8.22 crore registered voters. But the final rolls show only 7.42 crore—a staggering shortfall of nearly 80 lakh names.

This massive deletion has caused alarm across the political spectrum.........

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