Foreign Nationals from Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar Found in Bihar Voter List: Source

Foreign Nationals Found in Bihar Voter Rolls During EC Review; Final List to Exclude Ineligible Names.

A significant number of individuals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar have been identified in Bihar during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, sources have revealed.

The findings have prompted heightened scrutiny, with election officials confirming that all such cases will undergo thorough verification. Names of those found ineligible will be excluded from the final voter list, which is scheduled for publication on September 30, 2025, following enquiries set to begin after August 1.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched the SIR exercise on June 25, a day after issuing a directive for a comprehensive clean-up of electoral rolls. The objective is to remove ineligible entries and ensure that only genuine Indian citizens remain on the list. The drive will continue until July 26.

As part of the process, the ECI mandated the submission of identity documents, including proof of Indian citizenship. Over 77,000 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), supported by government staff and political party workers, are currently verifying the credentials of more than 7.8 crore registered voters in Bihar. Both existing and new voters have been asked to furnish valid citizenship documents.

The discovery has triggered political controversy. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya alleged that opposition parties were trying to manipulate the voter list by including foreign nationals for electoral gains. “The voter list in Bihar has been found to include names of foreign citizens from countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal,” Malviya posted. He further accused the RJD, Congress, Left parties, and their allied NGOs and activists of pressuring the ECI to retain such names.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court recently heard petitions challenging the ECI’s SIR process in Bihar, filed by several opposition leaders including Mahua Moitra (TMC), Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD), KC Venugopal (Congress), and Supriya Sule (NCP-SP). While the apex court allowed the ECI to proceed with the revision, it urged the commission to consider Aadhaar, voter ID, ration cards, and other commonly held documents—alongside the 11 documents listed in its directive—during the verification process.

The ECI later clarified that although these documents are being accepted, they do not alone establish eligibility to vote.

Following the exercise in Bihar, the Commission plans to extend the same revision process to West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, where Assembly elections are expected by March or April 2026, as legislative terms in these regions conclude in May 2026.