Bawankule welcomes EC’s second phase of voter roll revision across 12 states

Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday welcomed the Election Commissionrsquos EC decision to launch the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls across 12 states and Union Territories calling it a ldquopositive steprdquo to ensure greater accuracy in the voter list news agency ANI reportedWATCH Mumbai Maharashtra On the second phase of SIR Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule says The list of my area has 5 lakh 40 thousand votes If someone goes somewhere else they are added to that area as well but there is no deletion They go somewherehellip pictwittercom1IKF1jhw5vmdash ANI ANI October 28 2025Bawankule said such exercises are crucial for maintaining transparency in the electoral processldquoThe list in my area has around 54 lakh names When people move elsewhere they are added to the new arearsquos list but not deleted from the old one Without such surveys errors will continue The Election Commission has taken a very good steprdquo he told reportersThe second phase of SIR will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chhattisgarh Goa Gujarat Kerala Lakshadweep Madhya Pradesh Puducherry Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal The first phase was conducted in Bihar in SeptemberMeanwhile the move has drawn criticism from the Opposition with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan describing it as ldquoa direct challenge to the democratic processrdquoDefending the ECrsquos initiative BJP MP Dinesh Sharma also said that the SIR is essential to ensure clean and transparent elections ldquoThere are people who died 10 years ago yet their names remain on the list Infiltrators are also casting votes This step is a threat to those who manipulate the systemrdquo he told ANIAccording to the ECs schedule printing and training will take place between October 28 and November 3 followed by field enumeration from November 4 to December 4 Draft rolls will be published on December 9 with the claims and objections period running until January 8 2026 Hearings and verifications will be conducted through January 31 and the final electoral rolls will be released on February 7 2026Shiv Sena backs nationwide voter roll revision seeks completion before civic polls inMaharashtraThe Shiv Sena has extended full support to the Election Commissionrsquos nationwide Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls describing it as a crucial step toward strengthening electoral transparency and integrity ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in MaharashtraShiv Sena spokesperson Advocate Susieben Shah termed the SIR a ldquonationbuilding reformrdquo that reinforces Indiarsquos democratic framework by ensuring that ldquoevery genuine citizenrsquos vote is counted once and only oncerdquoldquoMaharashtra has witnessed rapid migration urban expansion and demographic changes in recent years leading to inaccuracies in local electoral rollsrdquo Shah said ldquoBefore the municipal elections it is crucial that these errors are corrected through a comprehensive SIR process This is not politics this is about the purity of democracy The SIR will protect the voterrsquos right and prevent manipulation in municipal electionsrdquoReaffirming the partyrsquos faith in the Election Commissionrsquos constitutional authority under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 213 of the Representation of the People Act 1950 the Shiv Sena urged the Commission to complete the SIR across every ward and division in the state to eliminate bogus or duplicate entries that could distort the electoral mandateShah also highlighted Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shindersquos commitment to transparent and technologydriven governance ldquoMaharashtra which has pioneered digital policing egovernance and data integration will fully cooperate in implementing the SIR effectively and fairlyrdquo she saidEarlier on Monday Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that the Election Commission will conduct the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories between November and FebruaryWith ANI inputs