Govt Ready to Convene Special Parliament Session to Discuss SIR: Amit Shah

The Centre is ready to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on November 3, 2026. His statement comes amid an intensifying political confrontation between the BJP-led government and Opposition parties over the implementation of the voter-list revision exercise.

Speaking in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Shah said the government was prepared to hold a special parliamentary session to deliberate on SIR, which has attracted criticism from Opposition parties over voter verification procedures, alleged deletion of names and the possibility of eligible voters being excluded from electoral rolls.

The announcement comes as several states have witnessed extensions to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) original SIR schedule, raising questions about the time required to complete the exercise.

Amit Shah Challenges Opposition to Debate SIR in Parliament

Shah's offer is significant amid repeated Opposition demands for discussions on the electoral revision process. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders have raised concerns about the transparency of SIR and its potential impact on voters.

The Home Minister's statement also comes amid the ongoing political debate over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and electoral transparency.

The government has indicated its willingness to discuss these concerns inside Parliament, providing an opportunity for both the ruling alliance and Opposition parties to present their arguments.

SIR Exercise Faces Repeated Deadline Extensions

The third phase of the SIR exercise has taken considerably longer than initially anticipated in several states.

The Election Commission had originally planned to complete the exercise within approximately 95–100 days. However, the process has been extended in several states because of additional voter verification, Form 6 applications, unmapped voter records, logical discrepancies and hearings following notices.

Delhi has experienced the longest extension. Its revised deadline for completing the SIR process is December 22, 2026, compared with the original October 7 deadline. The exercise has consequently been extended to more than 176 days.

Maharashtra's final electoral roll is now scheduled for publication on November 30, taking the overall process to approximately 154 days.

Andhra Pradesh's SIR exercise has been extended to around 169 days, while Telangana's process is expected to take approximately five months.

Different States Experience Different SIR Timelines

The extension of deadlines has varied across states depending on the volume of voter verification and administrative requirements.

According to the reported figures:

• Delhi: More than 176 days, following five extensions.

• Andhra Pradesh: Approximately 169 days.

• Maharashtra: Approximately 154 days.

• Telangana: Approximately 5.05 months.

• Karnataka: Approximately 3.9 months after two deadline revisions.

Meanwhile, Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Haryana completed the exercise within the original 100-day timeframe.

Opposition Concerns and Electoral Transparency Debate

The SIR exercise has become a major political issue, with Opposition parties demanding greater transparency in the verification and deletion of voter names.

The government and Election Commission face increasing scrutiny over the implementation of the exercise, particularly in states where deadlines have been extended multiple times.

A special parliamentary session, if convened, could provide a significant platform for discussions on electoral reforms, voter inclusion, verification procedures and the functioning of the Election Commission.

Shah's statement has therefore added a new dimension to the political debate, placing the focus on whether the government and Opposition can reach a parliamentary discussion on one of the country's most contentious electoral issues.