Over half of voters missing from Bihar’s draft electoral roll are women, data reveals
More than half of the voters excluded from Bihar’s draft electoral roll following the Special Intensive Revision are women, according to an analysis of Election Commission of India data published on August 1. The figures show that 55% of those left out are women, with the highest exclusion rates seen in several districts that also have a significant Muslim population.
The draft list was compiled from enumeration forms submitted between June 24 and July 26. Individuals whose names do not appear will now be required to present proof of citizenship to be reinstated in the final list, scheduled for release on September 30. The Election Commission has said that nearly 65.6 lakh names were removed, citing reasons that include death (22.3 lakh), permanent relocation or prolonged absence (36.3 lakh), and duplication across multiple rolls (7 lakh) according to a data analysis report by The Hindu and Scroll.
Gopalganj district in western Bihar recorded the highest overall exclusion rate at 15.1%, with the Gopalganj assembly constituency alone registering an 18.25% reduction in its electoral roll, the steepest in the state. Across 43 of Bihar’s 243 assembly constituencies, women account for 60% or more of those removed. In January 2025, women made up 47.7% of the state’s electorate; in the draft roll following the revision, this proportion has dropped to 47.2%.
Kaimur district recorded the largest percentage of women excluded from the draft roll at 64%, followed by Buxar at 63%. In Rajpur, a Scheduled Caste-reserved constituency in Kaimur, women represent 69% of those removed, while in Brahampur the figure stands at 63%. By contrast, in Barhara constituency in Bhojpur district, nearly three-quarters of those excluded are men.
Five of the ten districts with the highest percentage of excluded voters , Purnia, Kishanganj, Madhubani, Bhagalpur, and Sitamarhi, also have the largest share of Muslim residents in the state. Election Commission data indicates a correlation: the greater the Muslim population in a district, the higher the exclusion rate, whereas districts with larger Scheduled Caste populations tend to see lower exclusion rates.
Six constituencies in Gopalganj, Gopalganj, Kuchaikote, Barauli, Hathua, Baikunthpur and Bhorey , rank among the top 20 in the state for voter exclusions. Purnia district’s Purnia, Amour and Dhamdaha constituencies also feature prominently in the list of areas most affected.
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What is a ‘substantive motion’? BJP MP initiated one against Rahul Gandhi? Full details here
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday said he has initiated a substantive motion against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he was “hand in glove” with “anti-national” forces.
After Dubey raised the matter during the zero hour in the house, protests ensued leading to adjournment for the day.
In his notice, Dubey accused Rahul Gandhi of having engaged with the Soros Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and USAID, and had travelled to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the United States to carry out “anti-India” activities.
Speaking to the presspersons outside Parliament, Dubey said he had demanded cancellation of Gandhi’s membership and sought that he be banned from contesting elections for life time.
Dubey had earlier, in February 2025, filed a privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi accusing him of distorting facts and attempting to undermine the prestige of the country through his speech in the Lok Sabha.
While Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had indicated that the government might move a privilege motion, but government sources on Thursday said no such decision had been taken.
Responding to the motion, Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal stated that the Congress party was “not bothered about any motions.”
Venugopal criticised the removal of parts of Rahul Gandhi’s speech during the Lok Sabha debate on the India-U.S. interim trade deal, in which Gandhi had accused the government of compromising national interests.
He also defended the Congress’ move to submit a notice seeking the removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker, stating that the party had not been receiving justice from the Chair.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism, he asked what privilege Gandhi had violated and said that despite past action against him, voters had returned him to Parliament with a higher margin.
What is a substantive motion?
A substantive motion is a formal proposal brought before the Lok Sabha to get a clear and final decision from the House.
It is a complete proposal by itself and is not connected to any other matter being discussed. If the House approves it, the motion becomes the official opinion or decision of the Lok Sabha on that issue.
According to the Lok Sabha rules, such a motion can be taken up only if the Speaker allows it. The Speaker has full authority to accept or reject the proposal and also decides when and how it will be discussed.
If the Speaker admits the motion, members can debate it and then vote on it. In some cases, the matter may also be sent to a special committee to study the issue and submit a report.
A substantive motion forces the House to seriously consider a specific issue and take a clear stand. Since Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition, which is a constitutional position, any action against him must follow a proper parliamentary process. A substantive motion provides that proper procedure.
