The Patna district administration earlier responded to Tejashwi Yadav’s allegation by releasing a screenshot from the draft electoral rolls, clearly displaying the names and photographs of the RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, as well as his father and RJD president, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared the EPIC (Electoral Photo Identity Card) number displayed by Tejashwi Yadav as fake during a press conference. The card number shown, RAB2916120, was found to be unauthorized and does not match any record in the EC’s database. This has raised serious concerns about the authenticity of the document presented by the Bihar Leader of Opposition.

Election Commission now issues notices and deadlines

The EC has now issued a fresh notice to Tejashwi Yadav, asking him to submit the original EPIC card for verification by August 16, 2025, 5:00 PM. The notice points out that in Tejashwi’s nomination papers filed in 2015 and 2020 for the Raghopur Assembly constituency, the EPIC number recorded was RAB0456228. This number also appears in the latest Special Intensive Revision 2025 records submitted by the Booth Level Officer (BLO) during the voter list update.

Despite these official records, the EPIC number presented at the August 2 (Sunday) press event (RAB2916120), which was not found in the entire electoral database of India, leading to allegations that the card shown is counterfeit.

Tejashwi had first alleged that his name was not there in the new draft voter list released on August 1, and later he alleged that his EPIC number had been changed.

Legal Implications and EC's Warning

The Election Commission reminded that creating or using fake government documents is a punishable offence under the law. Accordingly, it has strongly urged Tejashwi Yadav to hand over the suspect EPIC card to the Electoral Registration Officer’s office by the stipulated deadline.

The matter points to serious electoral integrity concerns and has attracted widespread attention in political circles. The EC’s move to seek clarification aims at ensuring transparency and upholding the credibility of the voter registration system.

What if Mahagathbandhan decides to boycott Assembly polls?

The biggest question now is what happens if all parties in the "Mahagathbandhan" decide to boycott the elections? Will elections still be held? To understand this, one needs to refer to the Indian Constitution.

A major political row has erupted in Bihar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state's voter list. Tensions soared after the Election Commission revealed that around 56 lakh voters could not be traced, indicating that their names are likely to be removed from the electoral rolls.

This revelation prompted strong reactions from Opposition leaders including Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, who accused the government of orchestrating "voter theft" ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar. Taking things a step further, Tejashwi even questioned the point of participating in the elections under such conditions, hinting at a potential boycott.

Can elections be held if the Opposition refuses to contest?

The biggest question now is what happens if all parties in the "Mahagathbandhan" decide to boycott the elections? Will elections still be held? To understand this, one needs to refer to the Indian Constitution. Article 324 grants the Election Commission the authority to conduct, control and supervise elections. No external body can obstruct this process. The Commission is entrusted with ensuring free and fair elections and its mandate includes allowing equal opportunities for all to contest.

What if only the ruling party contests the elections?

It is the Election Commission's constitutional duty to conduct elections on schedule, regardless of how many parties choose to participate. Even if only the ruling party fields candidates, or if there are a few independent contenders, the election process must go on. The Constitution provides no provision for cancelling elections due to a boycott, unless there are extraordinary circumstances like large-scale violence or natural calamities. So, even if the entire Opposition alliance withdraws from the race, elections will still be held. If there are no opposing candidates, those from the ruling party may be declared elected unopposed.

Can the Supreme Court intervene to stop such an election?

Opposition parties might consider approaching the Supreme Court, arguing that holding elections without any real competition is undemocratic. They may cite past cases like Jaya Bachchan vs Union of India, where the apex court stressed the need for transparency and genuine representation. However, even in such cases, the Supreme Court has not suggested halting the election process. In a notable example from 1989 during the Mizoram Assembly elections, the Supreme Court clearly stated that elections could not be stopped merely because of a boycott.

Has such a situation ever occurred before in India?

There is no exact precedent in Indian electoral history where all major Opposition parties have unanimously decided to boycott an election. While there have been partial boycotts and walkouts in the past, a complete withdrawal from the electoral process by all major Opposition parties remains unprecedented.

Tejashwi Yadav stands firm on Bihar election 'boycott' possibility

Bihar elections: Tejashwi Yadav also cast doubt on the claim that 26.01 lakh voters had permanently shifted within just four months, calling it highly unlikely without any on-ground physical verification.

In a sharp escalation of the political crisis over Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, Leader of Opposition and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has hinted that the opposition may consider boycotting the upcoming Assembly elections. Responding to questions from the media about a possible opposition-led boycott, Tejashwi remarked, “This can also be discussed. We will see what the public wants and what everyone’s opinion is.”

Tejashwi Yadav, has once again reiterated that the opposition may consider boycotting the upcoming elections if the ongoing controversy over the voter list revision is not addressed. Tejashwi confirmed that he will consult with allied parties before taking any decision on a potential election boycott.

Responds to allegations of fear of defeat, defends concern over voter deletion

In an interaction with certain reporters, Tejashwi was asked whether his statements were driven by fear of losing the election, as alleged by NDA leaders. He strongly denied the claim, stating that the issue is not about defeat but about democratic fairness.

When questioned about the removal of names of deceased voters and why it should cause concern, Tejashwi emphasized that the problem lies in the massive, opaque deletion of names, many of whom, he alleged, belong to his support base.

He warned that there appears to be a deliberate effort to target opposition voters under the pretext of cleaning the rolls, raising the suspicion that the government is intentionally trimming the voter base of weaker and backwards communities.

Tejashwi concluded by asserting that this is not a routine revision but a dangerous attempt to manipulate electoral outcomes by tampering with the very foundation of democracy- the voter list. “Elections have been compromised,” says RJD leader.

Tejashwi questioned the credibility of the electoral process under the current circumstances, claiming the process has been deliberately manipulated. “When elections are not being conducted honestly, then why are we conducting elections?

The elections have been compromised,” he said, accusing the BJP and Election Commission of acting in tandem to purge opposition voters under the guise of cleansing the electoral rolls.

Mass deletion of voters raises alarm

Citing official data from the Election Commission, Tejashwi raised questions over the alleged removal of 52.66 lakh names from the electoral rolls in Bihar. He challenged the claim that 18.66 lakh voters had died between January and June 2025, asking why these names were not removed earlier. “Was the Election Commission sleeping before this?” he asked.

He also questioned the authenticity of the claim that 26.01 lakh voters had shifted permanently within four months, calling it highly improbable without physical verification.

Targeting of Opposition and marginalized voters alleged:

Tejashwi further accused the government of attempting to tilt the electoral balance in its favour by removing the names of voters who typically oppose the ruling party. “Preparations are being made to delete lakhs of names without BLOs visiting doorsteps, especially targeting voters opposing the government,” he said.

He called the process opaque and manipulative, citing the unexplained removal of voters listed at two places and the vague classification of 6.62% voters as “absent.”

Congress reacts to Tejashwi's statement:

On RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's statement, Congress MP Dr Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, "He is right considering 52 lakh voters are being deprived of their right to vote... Everyone who knows the facts must protest (against SIR)."

“Government now choosing voters,” Tejashwi warns

In a scathing indictment of the current state of democracy, Tejashwi said, “Earlier, voters used to choose the government. Now the government is choosing the voters.” He alleged the entire revision campaign is part of a larger conspiracy to disenfranchise Dalits, minorities, backwards, and other marginalized sections of society.

Concluding with a strong warning, Tejashwi declared, “We will not let their arbitrariness continue in Bihar.” The remarks have intensified the political storm in the state, putting pressure on the Election Commission and the central government to respond.

On this ECI says: One lakh voters remain 'untraceable' in Bihar SIR drive:

The Election Commission of India (ECI) said that around one lakh electors remain "untraceable" in Bihar during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' list in the state, while 15 lakh electors' forms have not been returned yet to the local poll officials.

In a release, the poll body said that 20 lakh electors were reported "deceased" during the drive, while 28 lakh others were found to have permanently shifted from their present addresses. It further said that around seven lakh electors were found to be enrolled at more than one place.

"In the first phase of Bihar SIR, the lists of all primarily incorrectly included electors, and those who have not yet returned their Enumeration Forms have been shared, on 20th July, with 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) nominated by District Presidents of all 12 major political parties of Bihar," the ECI said.

The poll authority also said that it will publish the Draft Electoral Roll upon the completion of the first phase of SIR.

"If there is any error in the Draft Electoral Roll, any elector or political party can file an objection regarding the inclusion of the name of any proposed elector with the concerned ERO or AERO of that Assembly Constituency by September 1, 2025," it said.

"Similarly, if any eligible person does not find their name in the Draft Electoral Roll, they can file their claims up to 1 September 2025," it added.

How electors residing temporarily outside Bihar can register themselves:

For those electors who are residing temporarily outside Bihar and are yet to register as electors elsewhere, the poll body said that they fill their forms online at its website or through the ECINet mobile app. Such electors can also take a printout of the form and send it to their BLO after filling and signing it.

"The names of electors who have submitted the Enumeration Form will be included in the Draft Electoral Roll," it said. "The Commission has sent SMS messages to all such electors whose mobile numbers are given in the Enumeration Forms."

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