The Election Commission has started the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of voter lists in 12 states across the country from Tuesday. The objective of this initiative is to update and make the voter list accurate before the upcoming elections.
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday initiated the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process for voter lists in 12 states. The stated purpose of this move is to update the voter list and remove bogus names. However, this process has become a focal point of intense political controversy in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin have questioned the revision process, raising doubts about the Election Commission's intentions. The ruling parties of both states — Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) — have alleged that the Commission is acting under pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
TMC's Strong Opposition in Bengal
In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress has launched a b protest against the SIR. Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and an MP, stated that his party is not against updating the voter list, but “its timeline and purpose are suspicious.” Abhishek Banerjee questioned,
'If the objective is to remove names of infiltrators from the voter list, then why is SIR not being conducted in border states like Assam, Tripura, or Manipur, where the BJP is in power?'
He further stated that when this process was carried out last time, it took two years to complete, “so how can the Election Commission accomplish it in two months now?” He warned that if “even a single genuine voter” is removed from the list, “millions of Trinamool Congress workers will make the Election Commission's life difficult.”
BJP's Retaliation
The BJP responded bly to TMC's allegations. Union Minister and Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar termed Abhishek Banerjee's statements as an “attack on the Election Commission.” Majumdar stated, “Abhishek Banerjee has made baseless allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner. They are agitated because SIR will remove bogus voters from Bengal's electoral rolls. The Trinamool Congress has sheltered infiltrators for years and included them in the voter list.” The BJP has also demanded action from the Election Commission against Abhishek Banerjee.
Wave of Protest in Tamil Nadu as well
Opposition to the SIR process has also intensified in Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has called it a “move against democracy.” He stated that the DMK and its alliance partners would organize a massive rally in Chennai on November 2, and protests against SIR would be held across Tamil Nadu. Addressing a public meeting in Mahabalipuram, Stalin said,
'The BJP has no vote base in Tamil Nadu, which is why it is dreaming of winning elections through the backdoor with the help of AIADMK. This revision process is part of the same conspiracy.'
He claimed that through SIR, the names of Dalits, tribals, minorities, and women voters are being removed to benefit the BJP and AIADMK. Stalin stated that the DMK had already requested the Commission to postpone this process, but “the Commission did not heed the plea.”
AIADMK's Support
Meanwhile, AIADMK, the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, has welcomed the SIR process. Party spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said that the DMK fears that “the names of bogus voters will be removed from the voter list.” He added, “The court has also stated that fake names should be removed from the electoral rolls. The DMK has long been winning elections with the help of bogus voters. Now that SIR has begun, they are scared.”
