SIR helped Bihar achieve record poll turnout, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar
He asserts that the turnout in the Bihar Assembly election in 2025 is the highest recorded since Independence—surpassing the turnout rates of several developed nations such as France, Japan, and Spain
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar visited Bihar on August 16, 2026, to commend the state for setting a record in voter turnout during its recent Assembly election. During his two-day visit, Kumar praised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process for electoral rolls, which was instrumental in achieving the high turnout.
The CEC arrived in Patna, accompanied by a delegation including Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Manish Garg, Director General of Media Ashish Goyal, and Director General of IT Seema Khanna. At a press conference at the airport, Kumar expressed gratitude to the voters of Bihar, stating that the SIR was a unique initiative that originated in the state and had the most successful record nationwide.
He highlighted that the SIR led to the removal of around 70 lakh names from the electoral rolls, which contributed to the record turnout. Kumar also emphasized the historical significance of Bihar, referring to Vaishali, known as the birthplace of democracy, as the "mother of democracy." The CEC plans to visit Vaishali, Madhubani, and Sitamarhi during his stay in Bihar, where he will engage with around 500 Booth Level Officers at Nalanda University in Rajgir.
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