Election Commission's Panchayat Style Post For Bihar Assembly Polls Goes Viral; Banrakas, His Wife Woo Voters

In a bid to bring the voter closer to the ballot, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has turned to an unlikely ally-comedy and culture. As Bihar enters the critical phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025 ahead of its assembly polls, the poll body is blending governance with entertainment, roping in popular characters from the much-loved web series Panchayat to energize voter participation.

In a now-viral image shared by the ECI, actors Durgesh Kumar and Sunita Rajwar, dressed as their iconic characters Banrakas and Kranti Devi, stand united with a clear message:

"Banrakas aur Kranti Devi ne toh apna prapatra bhar diya, kya aapne bhara?"
("Banrakas and Kranti Devi have filled their nomination forms, have you?")

It's more than just a meme. It's a moment where fiction meets democracy-where the world of a rural panchayat helps the state's top electoral authority reach the very audience the show depicts.

Pankaj Tripathi's Message: Convince, Not Coerce

The ECI has also roped in Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi, who hails from Bihar himself. In a short campaign clip, Tripathi delivers a thoughtful line:

"Hum soch ko rok nahi sakte, par badalne ki koshish zaroor kar sakte hain."
("We can't stop people from thinking, but we can try to change their minds.")

The message-shared by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Patna-urges eligible citizens to not just think about voting, but to act, by ensuring their names are on the electoral roll.

Behind the Scenes: A Statewide Machinery at Work

Behind the creative headlines, a massive administrative effort is underway. Over 77,000 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from political parties, and 4 lakh volunteers are on the ground to distribute forms, collect documents, and guide voters through the SIR process.

As per the ECI's June 24 orders and Article 326 of the Constitution, the focus is on verifying the voter base to ensure eligible voters are included and ineligible entries removed-a move the Commission describes as a step toward electoral transparency.

Controversy and Courtroom Challenges

Not everyone is convinced. Opposition parties have raised red flags, alleging that the process might be used to disenfranchise legitimate voters. The matter is now headed to the Supreme Court, even as the ECI insists that the pace of submissions-20% of forms returned in just two days-shows strong participation.

Despite the ongoing legal dispute, the Commission maintains that it has no plans to extend the revision deadline, though it has offered flexibility for voters to submit missing documents during the claims and objections phase through September-end.

Panchayat to Polling Booth: A Cultural Bridge

The use of Panchayat-a show grounded in village politics and relatable governance-offers more than just star power. It's a symbolic bridge, connecting the remote rural voter to the democratic process in a language and tone they recognize. In that sense, the ECI's campaign is not just promotional-it's profoundly political, in the best way possible.