The opposition INDIA bloc will convene a virtual meeting on July 19 at 7 PM to discuss the current political climate in the country, particularly in light of the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament and growing concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Congress MP KC Venugopal and AICC General Secretary Syed Naseer Hussain confirmed the meeting, stating that senior leaders of the alliance will deliberate on critical national issues. In addition to the online gathering, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav announced a parallel in-person meeting at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence the same day.
Yadav strongly criticised the ongoing SIR exercise in Bihar, calling its execution “dangerous for democracy.” He added, “We are not against the review itself, but the way it is being carried out raises serious concerns. We are reaching out to all major leaders and will raise this issue forcefully at the INDIA meeting.”
The opposition has intensified its attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the revision of the voter list ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections could lead to large-scale disenfranchisement.
Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh and Priyanka Gandhi also expressed alarm over the process. Ramesh referred to it as a “diabolical move to rig the elections,” while Priyanka Gandhi cited media reports alleging “massive irregularities” and questioned the ECI’s neutrality.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi echoed the criticism, urging the ECI to avoid rushing the process and raising concerns about potential voter exclusion, especially in border regions like Seemanchal where many youths are employed outside the state.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has defended the process, reporting that 89.7% of existing electors have already submitted their enumeration forms. The draft electoral roll for Bihar is set to be published on August 1, 2025.
