The Election Commission defends Special Intensive Revision as routine voter list work, opposition parties, rights groups, and Muslim communities express fear and anxiety
NEW DELHI — The electoral process is facing one of its most serious public trust tests in recent years as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls moves across the country. While the Election Commission of India (ECI) describes the exercise as a technical update, anxiety is spreading among voters, especially Muslims, poor families, migrants, and daily wage workers, who fear losing their right to vote.
The SIR process began in phases during 2025. According to the ECI, the stated aim is to remove names of dead voters, people who have shifted residence, duplicate entries, and those considered ineligible, before the 2026 assembly elections. Officials insist that the exercise has no link with citizenship checks.
An Election Commission official said, “This is a routine administrative exercise. No one’s citizenship is being questioned, and every voter has the right to file claims and objections.”
Yet the ground reality tells a different story.
After the first phase in Bihar during June and July 2025, the second phase was rolled out between November and December across nine states and three Union Territories. Around 51 crore voters are being re-verified in West Bengal, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In West Bengal alone, draft rolls show that nearly 58.08 lakh names were removed. Of these, 24.18 lakh were marked as deceased, while around 34 lakh were shown as missing or transferred. The highest removals were reported from South 24 Parganas district.
A resident of South 24 Parganas, Abdul Rahman, said, “My family has lived here for decades. Suddenly my name was not on the draft list. I was never informed. Voting is my right, not a favour.”
In Bihar, the first phase saw around 65 lakh names removed at the draft stage. Later, 3.66 lakh names were added back. Even after this, more than 62 lakh voters were left out. The final list recorded 7.42 crore voters in the state.
Uttar Pradesh presents an even more worrying picture. About 2.93 crore voters came under checking. Nearly 19 per cent failed to submit forms within the deadline, leading to their names being placed in a doubtful category at the draft level.
A migrant worker from eastern Uttar Pradesh, currently living in Delhi, said, “I was away for work. No one told me about any form. If my name goes, how will I vote?”
The fear is sharper among Muslims. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in recent days have publicly praised SIR on social media, presenting it as action against “infiltration”. Such claims have added to panic, as many Muslims see this language as a signal of selective targeting.
Social activist Shabnam Hashmi said, “When leaders talk of infiltration while voter names are being cut, minorities will feel unsafe. History has taught them to be afraid.”
The Election Commission has confirmed that in Bihar, 390 foreign nationals were identified, including 76 Muslims, and their names were removed. In other states, such cases are said to be very limited. Still, the repeated public focus on Muslims has raised concern.
Rights groups point out that document-based exercises often hurt Muslims, migrants, tenants, and the poor the most, as many lack formal papers or live at temporary addresses.
Opposition parties have strongly criticised the process. In Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “Constitutional institutions are being slowly weakened. The voter list cannot become a political weapon.”
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav warned, “This looks like NRC through the back door. People are being scared, not informed.”
The Trinamool Congress has accused authorities of quietly removing lakhs of names in West Bengal. A senior TMC leader said, “Democracy dies when voters disappear without explanation.”
The BJP has dismissed all allegations. A party spokesperson said, “The opposition is spreading fear because it knows it is losing public support.”
The SIR has also placed heavy strain on election workers. Media reports say that between 33 and 41 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have died in six states during the exercise. Families of the deceased link the deaths to long hours, stress, and tight deadlines.
Following criticism, the Election Commission extended deadlines in some states and appointed special observers.
The Election Commission maintains that no genuine voter will be removed unfairly. Officials say that wrongly deleted names can be restored during the claims and objections process.
Still, the political messaging around SIR, especially from the ruling party, has shaken confidence. With the BJP in power at the Centre and in 14 states, its celebration of SIR has made many Muslims fear that their votes are under watch.
As one elderly voter in West Bengal said quietly, “We only want to vote in peace. Why does it feel like we must prove ourselves again and again?”
As the claims and objections process continues, the final impact of SIR on India’s voter rolls and democratic health remains uncertain. What is clear is that for millions of Indian Muslims and marginalised citizens, the fear of losing the vote has already become real.
