Amit Shah on Friday tore into the opposition's allegations - that the special intensive revision of the Bihar voter list, months before an Assembly poll, is meant to disenfranchise non-BJP voters - and mocked Rahul Gandhi for looking for an "excuse for defeat even before the election".
At an election rally in Bihar's Sitarmahi, Mr Shah also predicted a big win for the BJP-led ruling alliance and slammed the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by Tejashwi Yadav's RJD, of having done 'nothing for the development of the state and encouraged hooliganism during its rule'.
In a fiery response to the Congress' allegations, the Home Minister said, "I want to tell Rahul Gandhi... this SIR (i.e., special intensive revision) issue is not new. You keep losing election after election... and now you are looking for an excuse for defeat even before this election."
"Before the election, shouldn't the names of infiltrators be removed from the voter list? The Constitution does not give the right to vote to those not born in India. Rahul Gandhi roams around carrying the Constitution... he should open it and read also," Mr Shah said.
#WATCH | Sitamarhi, Bihar | Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Before the Bihar assembly elections, should the names of infiltrators be removed from the voter list or not? The Constitution of India does not give the right to vote to those who are not born in India. Rahul Gandhi… pic.twitter.com/pQil75ZMpB
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2025
"They are opposing this SIR because infiltrators are their vote bank..." he declared.
The Election Commission-ordered revision of the Bihar voter list has triggered a row.
The Congress and its allies, including Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, have accused the EC of acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party, to identify and remove voters from marginalised and oppressed communities who, they say, would have selected the opposition.
The opposition has complained about the EC disallowing certain government-issued IDs, including the widely used Aadhaar and the poll body's own voter card, from a list of pre-approved documents people need to submit to re-register as an eligible voter.
The opposition has also complained about the timing of the exercise.
Both issues have been mentioned in an ongoing Supreme Court hearing, in which the Election Commission has been told to ensure enough time for appeals to be made and settled, and to use at least three more government-issued IDs, including the Aadhaar, for re-verification.
READ | Court Asks EC To Come Clean On Data Of Voters Cut From Bihar List
The Election Commission has insisted the re-verification exercise is only meant to ensure ineligible individuals - i.e., non-nationals - do not vote in an Indian election and has pointed to what it has said were large numbers of Nepali and Myanmarese people found on the Bihar list.
The EC has said 65 lakh names had been struck off a draft list. This, the poll panel said, included people who had moved out of the state, were double-registered, or had died.
The opposition, however, has said no reason was given for the exclusion and that 75 per cent of the names had been removed based on recommendation of low-level polling officials.
The court directed the EC to enter these details into the record.
The Bihar voter list revision has been condemned by almost every opposition leader, including poll strategist-politician Prashant Kishor, who said 'no doubt names are being removed'.
The row in Bihar isn't the only voter list-related spat. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi have also alleged widespread voter fraud in the Karnataka and Maharashtra Assembly elections.
At a protest meeting in Bengaluru this morning Mr Gandhi, who has ramped up attacks on the EC on this topic, appeared to threaten the poll body, saying, "Think twice before attacking the Constitution. We will catch you, one by one. It will take time. But we will catch you."
READ | "If You Attack Constitution...": Rahul Gandhi Targets Election Commission Again
The EC has responded fiercely to these allegations, demanding Mr Gandhi provide proof or offer an apology. The BJP's Amit Malviya scoffed at the Congress leader, saying, "... he has no case and (is) indulging in political theatre... only to obfuscate facts, plant doubts in people's minds, and tarnish the image of a constitutional body entrusted with free and fair elections."
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