Bihar Elections- Ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. He has alleged that the Election Commission carried out the exercise in “a hurry.” Owaisi warned that if those whose names were deleted from the electoral rolls do not verify their status, it could lead to “another uproar on polling day.” He also mentioned that AIMIM’s Bihar unit chief, Akhtarul Iman, has approached the Supreme Court regarding the SIR.
Owaisi slams SIR in Bihar
In an interview with ANI, Owaisi spoke extensively about the Bihar polls and candidature from his party. Speaking on the SIR revision, Owaisi pointed out that checking citizenship is the responsibility of the Home Ministry, not the Election Commission. According to Owaisi, 65 lakh names were removed from the draft electoral roll, and an additional 3.5 lakh voters were deleted after the final revision. He expressed concern over the timing and pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), noting that the notification threatens voters with possible action under the Foreigners Citizenship Act if they are not found after repeated visits.
“SIR is an issue. On behalf of our party, Akhtarul Iman, the president, personally went to the Supreme Court. If those whose names were deleted don’t check, you’ll see there’ll be another uproar on polling day. 650,000 names were removed. Now, the Election Commission has removed another 350,000…Now, the 350,000 will have to be checked again. What we’re saying is, what was the hurry? You could have taken your time,” Owaisi said.
Owaisi shrugs off Prashant Kishor’s impact
When questioned about Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor’s influence in Bihar polls, Owaisi stated that AIMIM has fielded good candidates and the party will work hard. He stressed that while everyone has the right to contest elections, he focuses on his own factor. “We’ve fielded good candidates, so we have to work hard. It’s everyone’s right to contest elections. I see my own factor. I don’t see others factor. They will contest, let them contest. We have to ensure that our party’s candidates succeed,” stated Owaisi.
#WATCH | On Jan Suraaj Founder Prashant Kishor's factor in Bihar polls, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says in an interview to ANI, "…We've fielded good candidates, so we have to work hard. It's everyone's right to contest elections. I see my own factor. I don't see others… pic.twitter.com/HQiqiWWTJD
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2025
On being asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” allegations, Owaisi stated that he could not speak on behalf of Gandhi or his party, stating, “They are capable.” However, he emphasised the importance of political vigilance, especially when facing a rival like the BJP. Owaisi said, “I can’t speak on behalf of Rahul Gandhi and his party. They are capable. I believe that if I have to defeat the BJP, the way the BJP fights elections, these people work 24 hours a day. Our job should be to keep an eye on their every move. This happened with the voter list in my constituency in 2009 or 2014. We went and wherever there were duplicate entries, we challenged them.”
“You’re competing with the BJP; it’s a formidable political opponent. You blink, and these people will do their work, so obviously, we must be vigilant. And we must check the voter list, check the names,” he added.
#WATCH | On 'Vote Chori' allegations and statements of Rahul Gandhi, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says in an interview to ANI, "I can't speak on behalf of Rahul Gandhi and his party. They are capable. I believe that if I have to defeat the BJP, the way the BJP fights elections,… pic.twitter.com/CAMUSKzWRh
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2025
Conclusion
Owaisi has raised serious concerns over the rushed voter list revision in Bihar, warning it may trigger unrest on polling day. While dismissing Prashant Kishor’s influence, he emphasised AIMIM’s focus on fielding strong candidates and staying vigilant.
Also Read: EC Seeks Footage Of Mamata Banerjee’s Warning To State Poll Chief: Sources
