CM Saha Assures Accurate Electoral Rolls as Tripura Initiates SIR

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday announced that preliminary work has begun for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral rolls, aiming to ensure that no eligible voter is left out. The formal notification for the exercise is still awaited, but officials have already started preparations.

Speaking to reporters after attending a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workshop, Saha sought to allay public concerns, emphasising that there is no reason for panic during the revision process. “The Election Commission has initiated SIR in different states to ensure that no valid voters are left out. In our state, officials have already begun preliminary work for the exercise even as formal notification is yet to be issued,” he said.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the objective of the SIR exercise is to maintain comprehensive and accurate electoral rolls. He added that the ruling party would provide assistance to voters during the process to ensure that all eligible individuals are included. “In today’s workshop, we discussed how the party can extend help to the voters during the SIR exercise. We will ensure that no valid voter is left out of the electoral rolls,” Saha said.

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Addressing the state’s geographical sensitivities, Saha noted that Tripura shares a long border with Bangladesh on three sides, underscoring the importance of allowing all eligible voters to exercise their democratic rights. “We have to ensure all the eligible voters get a fair chance to exercise their democratic rights,” he added.

Saha also responded to opposition concerns regarding the establishment of private universities in the state. Members of the CPI(M) and Congress had staged a walkout in the Assembly on Friday in protest against three bills facilitating private higher education institutions. Defending the move, Saha cited Sikkim, which has 23 operational universities despite a population of around eight lakh, and said similar initiatives could boost Tripura’s economy by attracting students from outside the state.

The Chief Minister assured that strict regulatory oversight would be maintained over the new universities. “We will keep a close eye on the functioning of the new universities. The government will not allow them to function if they do not have UGC approval or registration,” he said. These developments reflect the state government’s dual focus on electoral preparedness and higher education reforms amid ongoing political debate and scrutiny.

Also Read: CM Saha Confirms Tripura Achieves Zero Dropout Rate in Primary Education