Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has stirred political debate in Bihar after alleging that his name has been omitted from the state's latest draft electoral roll. Calling it a "murder of democracy", the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar termed the incident a direct attack on citizens' voting rights.

The issue surfaced following the release of the 2025 draft electoral rolls for Bihar, ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections and potential early Lok Sabha campaign preparations. Tejashwi Yadav expressed his shock and anger at the exclusion and accused the authorities of engaging in deliberate voter suppression.

Allegation by Tejashwi Yadav

Speaking to reporters and in a strongly worded post on social media, Tejashwi Yadav said:

“This is not just about me. It’s about millions of voters whose names are being silently removed. This is a murder of democracy. It is an organised way of snatching away the rights of common people.”

He claimed that despite being a public representative, his basic electoral right has been violated, which he views as a threat to democratic integrity in Bihar.

Tejashwi, who has represented Raghopur Assembly constituency and remains a central figure in Bihar’s opposition politics, also alleged that thousands of RJD supporters and voters have faced similar exclusions, particularly from Dalit, minority, and backward-class localities.

Demand for Action from Election Commission

Yadav demanded an immediate response from the Election Commission of India (ECI). He urged the poll body to:

• Investigate omissions from the draft electoral list in Bihar.

• Launch a public inquiry into how verified names could be missing.

• Reinstate all deleted names promptly, especially where voter verification has already been done in previous elections.

His party is reportedly preparing to submit a formal complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar and may also approach the Supreme Court, should the issue not be resolved at the state level.

RJD’s Broader Allegation

The RJD has termed this development as part of a "larger conspiracy" to influence upcoming elections. Party spokespersons accused the NDA-led state machinery of:

• Manipulating electoral rolls to weaken opposition-held constituencies.

• Targeting specific demographics that traditionally support the RJD.

• Undermining the electoral process through bureaucratic loopholes and quiet deletions.

Senior RJD leaders, including Jagdanand Singh and Manoj Jha, have come out in full support of Tejashwi Yadav, warning that if voter suppression goes unchecked, Bihar could witness massive protests and legal battles in the weeks ahead.

Election Commission's Response Awaited

As of now, the Election Commission has not issued any official clarification regarding Tejashwi Yadav’s missing name or the alleged large-scale omissions. However, sources within the electoral office stated that:

• The draft list is provisional, and voters have time to verify and file corrections.

• The Commission is welcoming objections and additions till a specified deadline.

• Any mistake or technical issue will be rectified after due verification.

Officials have urged all political leaders and citizens to use the formal channels of redressal, including Form 6 (inclusion) and Form 7 (objection), to correct anomalies in the draft list.

Opposition Parties Rally Behind Tejashwi

The controversy has found resonance across opposition parties in India. Leaders from Congress, CPI(ML), and AAP have also raised concerns over similar issues reported in other states, such as West Bengal, Jharkhand, and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted in support of Tejashwi, calling the issue “deeply disturbing” and urging the Election Commission to act with fairness and urgency.

BJP Reacts Cautiously

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded cautiously. BJP leaders in Bihar said that:

• They trust the Election Commission to conduct a free and fair verification process.

• If Tejashwi’s name is genuinely missing, he has the same right as any citizen to file a correction.

• Accusations of conspiracy are politically motivated and premature.

Some party insiders suggested that this may be a strategic distraction by RJD ahead of the Assembly session, where the opposition is expected to corner the ruling alliance on issues like unemployment, paper leaks, and law & order.

Citizens Urged to Check Voter Data

In the wake of this high-profile controversy, citizens across Bihar have been urged to verify their voter details using:

• The National Voter Service Portal (NVSP).

• Booth-level officers (BLOs).

• Mobile apps like Voter Helpline or offline verification booths.

The final electoral roll will be released after objections and corrections are reviewed, as per the standard electoral calendar.

Conclusion

The exclusion of Tejashwi Yadav’s name from Bihar’s draft voter list has triggered a political storm, highlighting growing concerns over transparency in India’s electoral process. With the 2025 state elections and 2026 Lok Sabha elections inching closer, incidents like these could shape the public narrative on electoral fairness.

As the matter awaits an official response from the Election Commission, the focus remains on voter rights, political accountability, and citizen awareness. The outcome of this episode may well determine how seriously India’s democratic institutions treat voter inclusion and protection in the digital age.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are BLT Logistics, Bhadora Industries, Highway Infrastructure, Parth Electricals & Engineering, Jyoti Global Plast, Essex Marine, Aaradhya Disposal Industries.

The Current active IPO are Flysbs Aviation, Cash Ur Drive Marketing, Renol Polychem, B.D. Industries (Pune), NSDL, Takyon Networks, Mehul Colours, M&B Engineering, Sri Lotus Developers & Realty.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.