The politics surrounding SIR (Special Intensive Revision) has intensified in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has criticized the BJP, demanding an extension of its deadline.
Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party (SP) has begun to sharpen its election preparations in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. While political rhetoric concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls is intensifying, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has simultaneously started working on a concrete strategy at the grassroots level.
Learning from Bihar's recent experience, Akhilesh Yadav is determined not to let any lapse occur in "vote management" this time. Under this strategy, the SP has deployed 'PDA Prahari' (PDA Sentinels) across the entire state.
Both Politics and Grassroots Preparation on SIR
In recent days, Akhilesh Yadav has raised questions about the Election Commission and the government, demanding an extension of the SIR deadline. The SP alleges that irregularities could occur in the name of special revision, specifically in adding and removing voters' names, which might influence election outcomes. However, instead of limiting itself to mere accusations, the SP leadership has prioritized grassroots preparation this time.
Under Akhilesh Yadav's direction, the SP has established a special monitoring network named 'PDA Prahari'. These sentinels have been deployed at every assembly constituency, block, and booth level across the state. Their main objective is to ensure that the names of the party's traditional voters are not removed from the electoral rolls and that no fraudulent names are added to the list.
Political Lesson from Bihar
This new SP strategy is considered to be linked to Bihar's recent political experience. In Bihar, opposition parties had vigorously raised the issue of "vote theft" during the SIR. Despite a series of press conferences, documentary presentations, and accusations, the special revision process was completed, a new electoral roll was created, and record voter turnout was observed in the elections. Consequently, the NDA secured a massive majority, and the "vote theft" issue backfired on the opposition.
This is why Akhilesh Yadav is adopting a balanced strategy this time. He is both monitoring the SIR and not entirely abandoning the issue, but he is also not allowing it to become such a major political weapon that other electoral issues get overshadowed.
What is the Role of 'PDA Prahari'?
The SP's 'PDA Prahari' are essentially trained party workers who are coordinating with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at the booth level. Their primary responsibilities include—
- Enrolling new voters through Form-6
- Removing names of deceased or relocated voters via Form-7
- Ensuring the security of names of traditional SP-supporting voters
- Monitoring any kind of fraudulent voting entry
According to SP sources, these sentinels are active in every block of the state and are submitting their reports to the party leadership on a daily basis. This also helps the party understand in which areas the organization is b and where more effort is needed.
2027 Preparations Intensifying Now
The SP possesses an organizational structure across all 403 constituencies of the state. The party also believes that elections are not won solely through social media, press statements, and political accusations, but that a b grassroots network and robust management of the electoral roll are crucial. With this mindset, the PDA Prahari have not been confined merely to SIR monitoring; they have also been tasked with strengthening the party's hold in rural and urban areas.
Within the party, it is also believed that this entire exercise is laying the groundwork for the 2027 election strategy. The SP leadership wants to ensure that when the election time arrives, no technical or administrative hurdles related to the electoral roll cause disadvantage to the party.
