Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has addressed the ongoing debate regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, clarifying that updating the voter list before each election is mandated by law. His statement, made in Firozabad, comes amidst criticism from opposition parties, primarily concerning the SIR in Bihar. Kumar highlighted that concerns about voter list accuracy have been raised by opposition parties in the past.
“The law requires voter lists to be updated before every election. A detailed investigation of the voter list and all voter details was not conducted after January 1, 2003. This is supposed to be a standard practice,” the CEC stated.
He added that many political parties have previously raised concerns regarding the authenticity of voter lists, requesting updates. Kumar also mentioned that more than 1 lakh booth-level officers are working with the support of all political parties to ensure accuracy and prevent ineligible entries. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting the Special Intensive Revision to ensure the accuracy of electoral rolls ahead of forthcoming elections.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed reservations about the SIR being conducted in Bihar, questioning the Election Commission’s haste and calling for transparency. Pilot, speaking in Dausa, Rajasthan, stated that the speed of the Election Commission’s actions has led to significant doubts, noting that opposition parties sought answers from the EC but were not satisfied.
Opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have voiced their concerns that the SIR process could be misused to disenfranchise vulnerable voters. In response, the ECI has stated that the exercise aligns with Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act of 1950. The goal is to remove ineligible entries while ensuring that all eligible voters are included.
