The Election Commission is likely to announce nationwide special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on Monday. The development comes amid stern protest from Opposition over alleged irregularities in the exercise.
The Election Commission has announced a press conference at 4.15pm on Monday. While the agenda of the press briefing hasn't been publicised, sources in the know of developments say the Commission is likely to announce pan-India SIR on Monday.
Reportedly, the Commission is likely to conduct the intensive revision in multiple phases across the country, and the first phase is likely to include 10-15 states. The Commission is reportedly planning to complete the revision of the electoral roll in poll-bound states in the first phase itself.
States like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry are scheduled to go to polls next year. With at least three states being governed by Opposition parties, the Election Commission is likely to face stiff opposition from them.
Recently, during a hearing at the Madras High Court regarding issues in the voter list for T. Nagar constituency, the Commission said it would announce nationwide SIR this week.
Earlier on Sunday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin slammed the move to conduct SIR in the poll-bound state. Stalin, in a letter to party workers, advised them to maintain vigil against any move to manipulate electoral rolls.
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Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party-All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance in the state, Stalin charged the Opposition is trying to win elections by "snatching away the voting rights" of people. "The BJP and its ally AIADMK are estimating that they can win (the 2026 Assembly polls) by removing the names of working class people, SCs, minorities and women through SIR," the chief minister charged.
"Those who don't have the strength to face people in the electoral field and think that they can win by snatching away people's voting rights--it will only end up as a miscalculation as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned," he said.
