Special Intensive Revision

A Telangana activist's RTI request on SIR voter verification software was rejected by the Election Commission. Understand the reply, legal exemptions and voter concerns.

Electoral-roll revision has become a fresh point of political disagreement in Tamil Nadu. On 26 October, the DMK, Congress and Left parties walked out of an all-party meeting in Chennai, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The dispute comes as election authorities prepare electoral rolls using 1 January 2027 as the qualifying date. The controversy raises questions about electoral transparency, voter inclusion and opposition confidence in the revision process.

The Election Commission has announced a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls across 17 states and Union Territories, with 1 January 2027 as the qualifying date. The exercise puts voter enrolment, electoral transparency and preparations for the next Assembly elections in focus.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has demanded Aadhaar-linked electoral rolls and mandatory biometric verification at polling booths in Uttar Pradesh. His demand comes amid allegations of voter-list irregularities and an Election Commission order for statewide verification ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised nationwide protests against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his controversial remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late father. The dispute has intensified the political confrontation between the BJP and Congress, with both parties exchanging accusations over political conduct and electoral issues.

The BJP and INDIA bloc are preparing competing campaigns over voter-roll revision, turning electoral transparency into a major test of political communication, public trust and opposition unity.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa has ordered scrutiny of Forms 6, 7 and 8 entered by computer assistants after discrepancies emerged in voter rolls in Pilibhit and Azamgarh. Officials have been warned of strict action if irregularities recur, intensifying scrutiny of the electoral registration process during the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

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The Congress says the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally in New Delhi will demonstrate opposition unity and strengthen its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and “vote chori,” framing the protest as a fight to protect democracy.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised Rahul Gandhi and opposition parties over their allegations concerning electoral processes. Shah also predicted an NDA victory in Punjab, intensifying the political exchange ahead of the state's next Assembly election.

Activists, farmers’ groups and student organisations are preparing to march to the Election Commission’s office in Delhi at 1 pm on October 23, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha and People Against SIR have also called for nationwide demonstrations.