In a major setback to allegations of large scale rigging and vote chori in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections the Election Commission of India has clarified that not a single application was submitted by any losing candidate for verification of burnt memory or microcontroller modules of the Electronic Voting Machines. Likewise there were zero requests for repolls or challenges to the voter list after the 2025 Special Intensive Revision.
No EVM memory check requests
Under the procedure laid down after the July 2024 Supreme Court ruling any losing candidate who finishes second or third behind the winner can within seven days of the result seek a technical audit of EVMs by requesting memory or microcontroller verification.
Election officials have now confirmed that across all 243 Assembly constituencies and the eight seats that went to by election no candidate filed even one such request. This means not a single EVM was sent for memory or microcontroller examination.
Zero appeals against voter list changes
The Special Intensive Revision completed earlier this year also ended with no objections or appeals against inclusion or deletion of any voter from the rolls.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar stated that under the Representation of the People Act no candidate or political party filed any appeal after the draft and final rolls were published.
No repoll sought by any of the 2,616 candidates
Officials also confirmed that none of the 2,616 candidates and none of the 12 recognised political parties asked for a repoll anywhere in Bihar.
The 2025 election recorded a voter turnout of 67.13 percent the highest ever in the state. Counting was conducted at 4,372 tables overseen by counting supervisors assistants and micro observers with more than 18,000 counting agents present ensuring transparency throughout the process.
Political implications vote chori claims lose credibility
With no candidate using the legally available options to challenge the electoral process analysts say that the narrative of vote chori has suffered a major setback.
A senior poll officer remarked that the complete absence of requests for repoll EVM verification or voter roll appeals “speaks for the integrity of the process”.
Critics still cautious
Political critics note that the lack of formal objections does not automatically prove universal satisfaction. The memory check procedure is optional and depends on candidates taking the initiative.
However the official record clearly shows that every safeguard offered by law remained unused by all contesting candidates. This significantly weakens claims that the election was manipulated.
