Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav Questions Intent Behind SIR Electoral Roll Revision
Opposition leaders accuse Centre of using voter roll revision to limit voter participation.
Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav has criticized the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing the central government of using the process to disenfranchise voters rather than strengthen democracy. Speaking to reporters, Yadav claimed that the voter roll revision is aimed at "cutting votes" and questioned the urgency of completing the exercise in Uttar Pradesh, where no elections are scheduled in the near future.
Yadav also highlighted the challenges faced by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Uttar Pradesh, many of whom he said are under considerable stress and struggling to complete revision formalities due to the rushed timeline. He alleged that the BJP government contracted large IT firms in Noida to access voter list data as part of the process, suggesting an attempt to manipulate the electoral rolls for political advantage.
Echoing these concerns, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP E.T. Mohammed Basheer called for a strong parliamentary stance against the SIR process during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. Basheer lamented the lack of discourse on the topic in Parliament so far, emphasizing the need for the government to address this contentious matter amid other pressing economic issues.
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Sources report that opposition parties within the INDIA bloc have agreed to prioritize the SIR issue in both Houses of Parliament, pushing to debate it as a key agenda item during the Winter Session. Their unified front reflects growing apprehensions about potential impacts on voter representation and electoral fairness.
The Election Commission of India is conducting the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision across 12 states and Union Territories, including key states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. The final updated voter list is expected to be published by February 7, 2026, ahead of forthcoming elections, continuing a process that began with Bihar earlier this year. The revisions aim to update and cleanse the electoral rolls but have attracted scrutiny over transparency and political implications.
Also Read: Mamata to Lead Mass Mobilisations Across Border Districts in Protest Against SIR
