Bihar Polls Enter Phase 2, But EC Yet to Release Absolute Number of Votes Cast in Phase 1
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) faces renewed criticism over its handling of election data and accusations of political bias as Bihar's final election phase takes place today, November 11. The commission’s refusal to release the absolute number of votes cast and the gender-wise voter turnout in the first phase, combined with allegations of ruling-party voter transport, has fuelled a long-running dispute over electoral integrity.
The dispute centers on the ECI’s failure to publish absolute voter numbers and gender-disaggregated turnout for the first phase. Bihar’s opposition, led by Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), criticised the move, viewing the secrecy as a possible prelude to manipulation. The ECI claimed its standard procedure is to release such data only after all polling is complete. However, this claim is contradicted by the commission's own actions during the 2024 General Elections, where a press note for Phase 5 provided a detailed gender-wise breakdown of turnout.
This is not a new fight over data transparency. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the ECI delayed publishing final voter turnout percentages, drawing public concern and a Supreme Court petition from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The court declined to intervene mid-election. The ECI then released the absolute numbers, calling its process "rigorous, transparent and participative."
'Special trains'
At the same time, allegations have surfaced about special trains running from Haryana to Bihar just before the polling dates. Videos showed local BJP units in Haryana flagging off trains and distributing food to Bihar-bound migrant workers. RJD MP A.D. Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned the timing of four such trains, which carried an estimated 6,000 passengers, calling it "voter mobilisation" that violates electoral norms.
Both government and railway officials rejected the claims. Naveen Kumar, a senior manager in the Ambala Division, said the videos were misleading and the trains run annually for the Chhath Puja festival. Haryana home minister Anil Vij also dismissed the allegations as "baseless election propaganda."
These events unfold against a backdrop of a sustained campaign by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleging systemic "vote chori" (vote theft). In a recent press conference, Gandhi presented his "H-Files," alleging 2.5 million fraudulent electors in Haryana. He called it a "centralised operation," citing duplicate photos and names on multiple state voter rolls. Gandhi argued this manipulation was large enough to have cost his party the 2024 Haryana assembly polls.
The ECI’s Haryana office responded that electoral rolls were shared with all political parties and that all claims and objections were resolved before the election.
As Bihar voters head to the polls for the final phase, the ECI is under intense scrutiny. Unresolved questions about data, allegations of partisan voter transport, and claims of systemic manipulation have placed the commission’s neutrality at the centre of the political debate.
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