New Delhi, January 7, 2026 — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has emerged as the center of intense national attention this week, as it advances a sweeping Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across key states — triggering public scrutiny, political conflict, and legal challenges.
Record-Scale Voter List Cleanup in Uttar Pradesh
In one of the most significant electoral updates in recent years, the ECI released the Special Intensive Revision draft voter list for Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the removal of approximately 2.89 crore names, reducing the electorate to about 12.55 crore registered voters. The deletions account for nearly one-fifth of the state’s previous voter count and represent the largest single-state update in India’s electoral history.
Officials state that the majority of names were excluded due to address changes, migration, duplicate entries, or deaths. Residents now have until February 6 to file claims or objections if they believe their names were wrongly removed — a procedural deadline emphasized by local election authorities.
Political Opposition and Legal Battles Intensify
The ECI’s SIR exercise has sparked political controversy and heightened tensions among party leaders. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has escalated its opposition by moving the Supreme Court against the ECI, accusing the commission of biased implementation and dubbing the voter revision process as effectively a “WhatsApp Commission.”
In related political flare-ups, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the ECI’s voter-list App was designed by the BJP’s IT cell — pushing disagreement over both process and impartiality.
However, the ECI has responded with clarifications. It denied sending any special hearing notice to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, after claims surfaced that he had received one in West Bengal — stating that any communication was strictly a routine correction request and not a summons for physical appearance.
ECI Reinforces Constitutional Authority
Amid legal scrutiny, the ECI has reiterated to the Supreme Court that it is constitutionally empowered and obligated to maintain accurate electoral rolls — including the authority to exclude non-citizens from voter lists. The commission stressed that ensuring only Indian citizens remain registered to vote is a vital part of safeguarding electoral integrity.
Local Impacts and Administrative Measures
Across states, administrative follow-ups are unfolding. In Gujarat, an estimated 44 lakh voters are set to receive notices related to their registration status under the revision process.
In West Bengal, the ECI has asked for feedback from district officials to simplify technological tools used in voter-roll updates — acknowledging public frustration over certain aspects of the digital SIR interfaces.
Meanwhile, the commission has also issued directives to government employees in West Bengal, requiring declarations that they do not hold duplicate voter IDs — a measure aimed at reinforcing transparency ahead of state elections.
What This Means for Voters
The ongoing SIR process marks a significant phase in India’s democratic infrastructure, affecting millions of citizens. Voters are urged to:
- Check their names on the ECI’s official portal or local electoral rolls.
- Submit Form 6 or objections if their names were wrongly removed.
- Keep track of deadlines for corrections ahead of upcoming state polls.
Looking Ahead
With assembly elections slated in multiple states — including Kerala where ECI officials are set to review poll preparations next month — the commission’s actions now have far-reaching implications both administratively and politically.
As the SIR exercise progresses, the ECI’s balance of process integrity, public confidence, and legal scrutiny continues to define India’s electoral landscape into 2026.
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