Political leaders, Muslim and civil rights groups express concern over nationwide SIR amid fears of voter exclusion and electoral manipulation across 12 states and Union Territories
NEW DELHI/WAYANAD – Opposition to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories is mounting across the country, with concerns that the process could disenfranchise millions, particularly among marginalised communities including Muslims.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, during her visit to Wayanad on Wednesday, announced that her party would oppose the SIR in Kerala, warning that the process, previously conducted in Bihar, amounts to electoral manipulation.
Addressing the media after arriving in Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi stated: “We had opposed it in Bihar as well, both inside and outside Parliament, and we will continue to oppose it everywhere. The SIR is a method of fraud and a plot against democracy.” She cautioned that the Bihar exercise, which led to the removal of millions of voters from the rolls, was clearly aimed at restricting citizens’ right to vote. “We have seen what happened in Bihar, and if the same is repeated in other states, it will be a desecration of democracy,” she said.
During her two-day visit to her Lok Sabha constituency, Priyanka Gandhi also inaugurated several development projects. She reached Karipur airport on Wednesday morning and travelled by road to Wayanad, stopping to inaugurate the new building of the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Government Ayurveda Dispensary in Ernad, Malappuram district. Party sources confirmed that she will also meet local residents and review ongoing development works.
Echoing her concerns, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed full support for Priyanka Gandhi’s stance, highlighting the threat the SIR poses to democratic participation. He said, “This is a conspiracy to exclude millions of genuine voters from the voter list. Voting is the foundation of democracy; we will not sacrifice it at any cost.”
Stalin has convened an all-party meeting on 2 November to unite political parties in opposition to the SIR and called for parties to set aside differences to protect citizens’ voting rights.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Vice President Malik Motasim Khan also voiced deep concern over the nationwide SIR initiative, warning that its implementation could undermine the credibility of the electoral process. Referring to the Bihar experience, Khan said in a statement: “The Bihar SIR was marked by serious irregularities, unrealistic timelines, and an alarming lack of transparency. Nearly 65 lakh names were initially deleted from the draft rolls, and even after revisions, around 47 lakh voters remained excluded.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan joined the chorus of opposition, calling the SIR a serious threat to democracy. “It is not appropriate to implement the Bihar SIR in other states while its constitutional validity is pending in the Supreme Court,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, the SIR process has already begun. Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar warned that the process, scheduled from 4 November to 4 December, could exclude millions of tribal voters and migrant workers due to insufficient timelines and complex documentation requirements. He highlighted that approximately 22% of the tribal population lives in remote areas with limited access to digital tools, raising the risk of disenfranchisement. “There is a conspiracy to delete the names of five million people in MP,” Singhar said, noting that the Bihar model is being replicated.
The SIR in Madhya Pradesh involves voters filling out a detailed one-page enumeration form, with personal, familial, and prior SIR details. Voters will have two opportunities to appeal if their names are excluded, but the rapid pace of the door-to-door process, with 65,014 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting surveys, raises concerns over accuracy and fairness.
Civil rights groups and opposition parties are calling for transparency, inclusivity, and adequate time to complete the SIR process, warning that failing to address these issues risks undermining the very foundations of Indian democracy. Malik Motasim Khan summed up the sentiment, saying: “The ECI must act transparently, uphold constitutional principles, and protect every Indian’s right to vote.”
The unfolding nationwide controversy over the SIR highlights the delicate balance between administrative electoral revisions and citizens’ democratic rights. With political leaders, Muslim organisations, and state governments raising alarm, the coming weeks may determine whether the exercise strengthens voter confidence or becomes a tool for mass exclusion.
