Bihar polls a crucible! Is the EC changing?

Is Bihar changing the Election Commission? Possibly. The EC now appears gentler, more tolerant, and less combative in political matters—an area it was never meant to indulge in.
This shift is not sudden. One recalls an earlier, aggressive Election Commission—its chiefs, Rajeev Kumar or Gyanesh Kumar, often speaking like politicians, dismissing the opposition, and even challenging the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) to file affidavits to substantiate his charges. But with all his changes Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar remains firm on the polling day voters’ numbers. He dismissed the idea that vast deviance in numbers at close of polling and later was unnatural. He only agreed to one check that the Form 17 signed by the presiding officers of each booth to be given with the sealing of ballot boxes to remain firm.
The mood of Parliament—suspending 146 MPs in a single day in 2024, expelling the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha after a Gujarat court’s conviction, and evicting him from his residence— also echoed in the CEC’s tenor. When the LoP alleged manipulation in vote counts after the 2024 polls, the CEC’s brusque response—demanding an affidavit and refusing to answer—ignored the stature of a LoP, who enjoys the rank of a cabinet minister and cannot be casually dismissed.
The LoP did not relent. He launched a virulent 4000 km PadYatra across India in 2024, and more, 1300 km march with public rallies and demonstrations in Bihar recently against the special intensive review (SIR) till the rolls were made to be corrected with restoration of almost most of 65 lakh deletions except some 3.36 lakh. The EC has not yet answered why the special rolls revision was not done during the annual process between October to December 2024. These were published in January 2025.
The EC’s stated aim was to weed out “intruders.” Yet the CEC has not disclosed how many such names were actually found. At the October 6 press conference announcing Bihar poll dates, he evaded direct questions—even when asked bluntly about “ghuspaithiye.” Was the SIR a shoddy process? Is it for that reason hurriedly and hastily only four months before the Bihar election, in June, it launched the special revision with an ostensible purpose of weeding out the intruders? None, even not the Supreme Court, challenged the authority or autonomy to act as it wanted. The court succinctly raised many questions about the EC process, including Aadhar, that is now said to be is neither an identity proof, nor a residence proof nor a citizenship proof, being included as a proof of one’s credentials with the SIR applications.
One wonders if Aadhaar is none of the three basics, as CEC Gyanesh Kumar told the Press, why the official machinery, including the banks insist on such a euphoric document to be submitted as proof each and every time. If the EC is correct that it could not be part of 12 documents for enrolment as voter, why finally it agreed to the SC suggestion! It could have taken to the further extent of calling for cancellation and elimination of the euphoric document from the official dictionary. Rarely has an organisation so many differing views in a short span.
Certainly, the SC prods reduced the number of deleted names, as the CEC documents circulated at its July 6, 2025 press conference note, to 3.36 lakh.
Now CEC tells the court, on October 8, that it has accepted Aadhaar as ID proof for Bihar SIR! If that was to be so, was the EC correct in creating so many confusions.
The 6th October Press conference also exhibited that the EC as a whole could keep off political tantrums. To a number of questions by newsmen, on Rahul Gandhi, his assertions of ‘vote chori’, credibility of EC, Gyanesh Kumar, showed restraint. Unlike any previous occasion, he parried questions on Rahul Gandhi and direct affront about the organisation’s credibility. His only answer was political process has the freedom to raise questions.
It was a notable change. None asked if the change in demeanour was the result of massive public response to Bihar election rallies.
As the CEC puts every bit softly now, it seems the marches of Rahul Gandhi and Tejsavi Yadav on “vote chori”, the popular response in Bihar against vote manipulations as alleged by Rahul Gandhi in many other states, may have fine-tuned the EC moves. It is a different issue that an official is expected to behave like that – and must have no disrespect for any political dispensation.
Every organisation has its powers to function independently but none can have the freedom to act beyond limits. The SC is careful whether in terms of the EC or the temples under Archaeological Survey of India. None can have an extra power. The new provisions on election commissioners’ powers, of letting the ECs off on any charges, are not said to be in tune with democratic concepts. Popular sentiments correct aberrations. Silence of an organisation can’t be construed as acceptance. The latest way of the EC dealing may be a proof that the people are the masters and can correct the course.
Or does the Bihar process hints at more? Political noises seem can lead to changes many ways. That’s how a vibrant democracy functions. The moves may augur a better future for Bihar, riddled with the worst job crisis, migration and poverty. The EC’s silence on “rewri culture”—governments announcing direct cash or freebies right before polls—also raises questions. Shouldn’t the poll panel act on this practice?
According to the State Vibe survey, conducted in September, unemployment and migration top the list of voter concerns, with 38.4 percent of respondents citing it as their primary issue. Education and health, particularly among women, also emerged as priorities. Many respondents (33.4 percent) flagged fears of “vote chori” as a major issue, suggesting that the Opposition campaign against the SIR may have had impact on voters.
The Bihar process may be a turning point. A state plagued by unemployment, migration, and poverty could now become the crucible for electoral reforms the nation has long awaited. Perhaps Bihar marks the beginning of long-overdue reforms. All eyes are on the state. The country may have to start its change game here.