New Delhi, Oct 27: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will on Monday announce the first phase of the pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, marking the first such large-scale update in two decades. The opening phase will cover 10–15 states and Union Territories, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, all headed for polls soon.
According to EC sources, states such as Maharashtra—where local body elections must be held by January 31, 2026, per Supreme Court orders—and snow-bound regions like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Ladakh will be excluded from the initial round.
The ECI plans to roll out the revision in stages, considering regional factors such as winter conditions, ongoing local body polls, and the extent of existing voter mapping. States where 75–80% of electors are already verified will require only remaining voters to provide eligibility proof under Article 326 of the Constitution.
Ahead of the EC announcement, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M. K. Stalin accused the BJP of attempting to delete voter names through the SIR, alleging a repeat of Bihar’s case, where “65 lakh voters were deprived of their rights.” Stalin said the DMK and INDIA bloc parties would resist any such attempt to manipulate the rolls.
Unlike Bihar, where the SIR began through a written order, the pan-India exercise will be launched via a press conference, allowing for public queries and clarifications.
Sources said the enrolment stage for Phase 1 may begin November 1, with final rolls expected by late January or early February. The EC has already held two rounds of conferences with state Chief Electoral Officers, assessing readiness and progress in mapping current electors with past rolls.
Officials expressed confidence that the upcoming revision will produce a cleaner, error-free electoral roll, eliminating duplicate, deceased, and ineligible entries. Aadhaar will continue to be accepted only as identity proof, while the list of eligibility documents will remain indicative, not exhaustive. (Agencies)
