Amid growing concerns from opposition parties regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has defended the process. He stated that updating the voter list before every election is a legal requirement. Kumar highlighted that opposition parties have themselves previously raised concerns about the accuracy of voter lists. The CEC explained that the current process, a detailed investigation of voter details, has been ongoing since January 1, 2003. He emphasized the involvement of over 1 lakh booth-level officers, supported by all political parties, to ensure that the updated list is accurate. The Special Intensive Revision, conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), is designed to ensure electoral rolls are precise for upcoming elections. Sachin Pilot, a Congress leader, has expressed concerns regarding the ECI’s speed and transparency in the process. Opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), fear that the SIR might disenfranchise voters from marginalized communities. In response, the ECI has stated that the exercise is carried out according to the Constitution and aims to remove ineligible entries while protecting eligible voters’ rights.
