BJP scrambles to reclaim ground in Bihar as Opposition sets pace on EC voter roll drive

As confusion deepens and political temperatures rise over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, it’s not just the Opposition raising red flags — the BJP too is now on high alert.

Acting on feedback from the ground that suggests anxiety among voters and sluggish party response at the booth level, senior BJP leaders are moving swiftly to reclaim control of the narrative. On July 14, Bihar BJP organisation secretary Bhikhu Bhai Dalsania held an urgent strategy session with 26 state-level leaders, directing them to fan out across constituencies, calm public concerns, and assist party supporters in navigating the enrolment process.

According to sources, the BJP’s top brass is concerned it has ceded political ground to the Opposition, particularly the INDIA bloc, which has not only amplified claims of “mass disenfranchisement” but also ramped up its Booth Level Agents (BLAs) more aggressively. The BJP, which boasts the highest number of BLAs in the state, finds itself scrambling to match the Opposition's agility and grassroots presence.

Over the weekend, BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh conducted closed-door reviews in Rajgir and Muzaffarpur, seeking feedback on public sentiment around the EC’s ongoing drive. His visit signaled a shift — that the ruling party’s central leadership views the issue as potentially explosive in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

At a recent meeting, Dalsania reportedly emphasized the need for BJP’s BLAs to physically visit as many of the 73,000 polling booths as possible. From July 19, the party will also begin a round of Assembly-wise feedback sessions that will continue until July 31 — just a day before the EC publishes the first draft of the revised rolls.

“There is confusion on the ground. People are saying no forms were collected from them, and even when they submitted forms, they didn’t get any receipt,” said a senior BJP leader present at the meeting. “The EC’s speed has taken even us by surprise.”

Although the BJP still leads in absolute BLA numbers — over 52,000 — internal assessments admit that many booths remain uncovered and party workers appeared “complacent” compared to the Opposition. The JD(U), its ally, has added more BLAs percentage-wise in the last fortnight than the BJP.

Adding to the challenge is the fact that a significant proportion of submitted voter applications are reportedly incomplete. Field feedback suggests that as much as 70-80% of applicants haven’t attached any of the 11 documentary proofs mandated by the EC — a potential disqualifier, since final inclusion in the rolls will hinge entirely on the validity of documents reviewed by Election Registration Officers.

A BJP functionary noted, “Post-August 1 will be even more critical. Many people who’ve submitted forms might get dropped from the rolls. We want our BLAs — both BLA-1 at the Assembly level and BLA-2 at each polling booth — to stay engaged through the entire process.”

While publicly maintaining support for the SIR process, BJP leaders are airing concerns about genuine voters, especially migrant workers, being excluded due to documentation issues. “We are cooperating fully but are hoping that the EC’s online app ensures no valid voter is left behind,” said a party spokesperson.

Data from the EC underscores the scale of political mobilization. Between June 25 and July 2, the total number of BLAs across Bihar rose by 13%. The Opposition INDIA bloc led the charge, boosting its BLA tally by 17.5%, with the Congress nearly doubling its count in a week — from 8,586 to 16,500. In contrast, the BJP’s BLA growth was modest, rising by just 1.39%.

With barely months left before the Assembly polls and an increasingly wary electorate watching, the BJP now faces a dual challenge — plugging organizational gaps and reclaiming the narrative before the first draft voter list is published.