On Monday, December 8, 2025, a sense of triumph and tension hung in the air as all 30 National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parliamentarians from Bihar gathered in New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting, held before the day’s parliamentary proceedings, was more than a mere photo opportunity—it was a moment of gratitude, reflection, and, for some, a call to arms for the battles still to come. The NDA, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its key ally Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), had just clinched a historic mandate in the Bihar assembly elections the previous month, winning 202 out of 243 seats. This landslide victory was widely attributed to the relentless campaign efforts of Modi himself, who addressed 14 rallies and led roadshows across the state, invigorating the party’s base and, as reported by The Times of India, driving up voter turnout in every region he visited.
JD(U) MP Ramprit Mandal summed up the mood, telling reporters, “We all want to thank the PM for the way he worked and ensured the magnificent victory of the NDA in the just-held assembly elections. We won more seats than we had expected.” The sentiment was echoed by other alliance leaders, who greeted Modi with traditional offerings—a garland of makhana, a Madhubani painting, and a customary shawl. Among those present were Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Chirag Paswan, former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha, according to News18.
But Modi, never one to rest on laurels, quickly shifted the conversation from celebration to responsibility. He reminded the MPs that the “real task begins after the election,” urging them to focus on Bihar’s development and welfare. “Victory is just the beginning of greater responsibility,” he emphasized, according to News18. The message was clear: the NDA’s dominance in Bihar’s political landscape, while impressive, carried with it the weight of expectation from millions of constituents.
Behind the scenes, however, a storm was brewing. Even as the NDA basked in its electoral glory, opposition parties—led by the Congress—were mobilizing for a massive protest in Delhi. On December 14, thousands of Congress workers from Bihar are set to converge on Ramlila Maidan, joining forces with civil society groups and opposition leaders from Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. Their rallying cry: protest against the alleged misuse of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process during the Bihar elections.
The SIR, a mechanism ostensibly designed to purge electoral rolls of bogus entries, has become a lightning rod for controversy. The Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) claims the process was weaponized to disenfranchise young, Dalit, and backward community voters—groups that traditionally favor opposition parties. BPCC chief Rajesh Ram minced no words, telling the media, “The silence of the Centre on this grave injustice is shameful. The December 14 maharally will carry the pain of lakhs of affected citizens straight to the doors of those in power. This is not just about SIR—it is a democratic resistance against the systematic failures of this regime.” He announced the appointment of district supervisors across Bihar, tasked with ensuring a massive turnout from every block and panchayat. “Our workers will travel by train, bus—whatever it takes. Delhi will see the real strength of Bihar’s Congress,” Ram declared, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The opposition’s anger is not without cause. According to a detailed analysis by the Supreme Court Observer, the SIR process led to the deletion of lakhs of names from Bihar’s electoral rolls, with allegations that it disproportionately affected poor and marginalized communities. The Supreme Court of India, in early December, began scrutinizing the legality of the SIR. The timing, however, has raised eyebrows—the court’s hearings commenced only after the elections had already taken place using the revised rolls. As Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi demanded data and explanations from the Election Commission of India (ECI), they found themselves grappling with a fait accompli: the SIR had already shaped the outcome of at least one state election and was poised to influence others as the process rolled out in nine states and three union territories.
The human toll of the SIR has also come under harsh scrutiny. The Supreme Court Observer reported that 35-40 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) died during the SIR process, succumbing to stress-related causes such as suicide and brain hemorrhage. Others faced legal notices for alleged breaches of duty under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The Supreme Court responded by urging states to post more staff and grant exemptions where needed, yet the Chief Justice’s words cut to the heart of the matter: if the SIR is lawful, it must be carried out—but only within the bounds of justice and transparency.
Petitioners before the court argued that the ECI had deleted lakhs of names in Bihar without providing underlying lists or effective notice, leaving many voters—especially the poor and marginalized—without a realistic chance to appeal. They contended that the refusal to accept Aadhaar and ration cards as valid documents exceeded the ECI’s authority, and that the process resembled a citizenship test in disguise. Citing the 1995 Lal Babu Hussein v Electoral Registration Officer case, counsel reminded the Bench that electoral registration cannot begin from a presumption of ineligibility. The court ultimately intervened, directing that Aadhaar be accepted as an identity document, subject to verification, and reminding the ECI that deletions must comply with Rule 21 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
The controversy has quickly escalated into a national flashpoint. As the opposition rallies its forces for the December 14 protest, the NDA remains steadfast in its defense of the election’s legitimacy. The BJP and JD(U) point to their overwhelming mandate as evidence of public support for their governance and the integrity of the electoral process. Yet, for the Congress and its allies, the SIR saga is emblematic of what they describe as “institutionalized vote suppression”—a charge that, if proven, could have far-reaching implications for India’s democracy.
With assembly elections in Delhi looming and multiple state polls scheduled through 2026, the stakes could hardly be higher. The Supreme Court’s eventual ruling on the legality of the SIR will be closely watched, not only for its impact on Bihar but for the precedent it sets nationwide. In the meantime, the streets of Delhi are set to become the next battleground, as thousands descend on Ramlila Maidan to demand answers—and, perhaps, justice.
In Bihar and beyond, the echoes of November’s election are still being felt, reverberating through the corridors of power and the hearts of ordinary voters. Whether the SIR process will be remembered as a necessary safeguard or a tool of disenfranchisement remains to be seen. But for now, one thing is certain: the fight for the franchise is far from over.
