Tejashwi Threatens Poll Boycott Over SIR Row, Sparks Political Storm in Bihar

Patna, July 24, 2025 — The political temperature in Bihar soared on Thursday as RJD leader and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav warned that his party and its allies in the INDIA bloc may boycott the upcoming Assembly elections over what he termed as a deeply flawed and biased Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission.

Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Yadav said the option to boycott elections remains on the table, pending discussions with coalition partners. “What is the point in contesting elections if we are convinced that these are not going to be free and fair?” he said, stressing that while he does not oppose the SIR process itself, the execution has raised serious doubts about its integrity.

Inside the House earlier in the day, Yadav expressed frustration over Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s silence during the discussion on SIR, particularly when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary allegedly tried to equate the ongoing drive with routine annual voter list revisions.

The Election Commission claims to have covered 99% of the state’s 7.9 crore voters, identifying over 21.6 lakh as deceased and 31.5 lakh as having permanently migrated. Yadav, however, questioned this data, arguing that nearly four crore Biharis live outside the state for education and employment and may be at risk of being unfairly struck off the electoral rolls if not present during verification.

He cited media reports alleging that booth-level officers were hurriedly filling out enumeration forms to meet targets and that some of these forms were found dumped on streets. “Despite so many anomalies, the ruling NDA remains silent,” he said, accusing the poll body of favouring the ruling alliance.

The Congress echoed RJD’s concerns, calling the ongoing SIR process a “Tughlaqi” exercise and asserting that all options are open for the INDIA bloc, including a boycott.

NDA leaders dismissed Yadav’s remarks as political posturing. Union ministers Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan and Nityanand Rai claimed that his statements signaled the Opposition’s acceptance of defeat even before the elections.

Meanwhile, protests over the SIR process intensified in Patna as a Congress-led demonstration was met with police water cannons. Inside the Assembly, Yadav, wearing black in protest, took the confrontation further, referencing Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement that Nitish Kumar would lead the NDA into elections but that the choice of Chief Minister would be decided later. Yadav interpreted this as a sign of eroding trust within the NDA.

He also slammed an FIR filed in Begusarai against independent journalist Ajit Anjum, who has been critical of the SIR process through his YouTube channel. When Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary called Anjum’s reporting “fake,” Yadav shot back, “Who are you to decide that?”

Tensions boiled over on the floor of the House. Accusing BJP MLA Janak Singh of making derogatory remarks about his family, Yadav lashed out in anger, warning, “If you speak loudly, you will end up wetting your pants.” Another BJP MLA, Sanjay Singh, was seen ripping out his desk mic and charging toward the opposition benches. Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav quickly adjourned proceedings to restore order.

Outside the Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav alleged a coordinated attempt to intimidate him. “Let them get me killed if it pleases them. I will not put up any defence. I am ready to surrender my licensed weapon,” he said, capping a day of high drama in Bihar politics.