Opposition Parties in India Protest Against Changes to the Electoral Roll

• The opposition is protesting against changes to the electoral roll in Bihar.
• Revising the list could exclude millions of voters.
• The electoral commission prohibits accusations of manipulation.

On Monday, September 11, 2025, opposition parties in India held a protest in New Delhi, calling for the suspension of the ongoing revision of the electoral roll in the state of Bihar, where significant elections are scheduled for the fall. Protesters warned that this change could lead to the disenfranchisement of many voters.

Deputies and activists began the protest at the parliament, but were stopped by police, which prevented them from reaching the office of the electoral commission. The police temporarily detained several deputies, including the leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi.

The opposition accuses the Indian electoral commission of conducting a massive revision of the electoral roll that affects nearly 80 million voters. This has led to concerns that many citizens may be excluded from the elections due to stringent documentation requirements needed to verify citizenship.

Among the documents required are proof of birth, passports, and attestations. Critics assert that these documents are difficult to obtain in Bihar, where the level of literacy is among the lowest in India. They believe that this revision disproportionately impacts minorities, particularly Muslims.

The electoral commission denies these accusations, asserting that it has ensured that no legitimate voter is "left behind." It explained that the revision is a routine update aimed at ensuring the accuracy of the electoral rolls and preventing the inclusion of illegal names.

Rahul Gandhi also commented on fraudulent votes in his constituency in the state of Karnataka, which resulted in a higher turnout at the electoral commission. He believes that manipulations with the lists of voters could influence the results of parliamentary elections in 2024.

Tags: Politics