Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday alleged that the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is aimed at manipulating voter lists and helping the BJP win elections. He urged the Supreme Court to intervene against what he described as “bulk deletions” of voters. Sibal made the remarks while responding to a media report concerning alleged attempts to remove names from electoral rolls in Jharkhand’s Godda district.

The report cited by Sibal alleged that BJP agents in Godda were seeking the deletion of voters, with most of those allegedly targeted belonging to the minority community. Booth Level Officers, who are state government employees involved in electoral roll-related work, have reportedly raised concerns over the issue. The allegations have added to the political dispute surrounding the SIR exercise and the process of updating voter lists.

In a post on X, Sibal described the alleged targeting of voters as “politics of exclusion” and called for Supreme Court intervention. He alleged that the SIR exercise was being used to manipulate electoral rolls and provide an advantage to the BJP in elections. His comments were framed as allegations against the electoral revision process and the reported activities in Godda.

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Sibal’s remarks came a day after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi intensified their criticism of the Election Commission. Kharge referred to the poll panel as “BJP Kursi Bachao Aayog”, while Gandhi called it “Vote Chori Aayog”. Both leaders alleged that the BJP was attempting to weaken India’s democratic process through what they described as “vote chori”.

Gandhi has also alleged that more than 2.06 crore electors were excluded from Maharashtra’s draft electoral rolls following the SIR exercise. He accused the BJP and the Election Commission of changing their tactics to ensure the ruling party’s electoral victory. Gandhi further alleged that a government built on “vote chori” does not give adequate importance to voters or their concerns.

The allegations have intensified the broader political debate over electoral roll revisions, voter verification and the deletion of names. The Election Commission has maintained that SIR is intended to ensure accurate electoral rolls and prevent the inclusion of ineligible entries. The specific allegations regarding voter deletions in Godda remain claims reported by the media and raised by opposition leaders.

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