Archive · 27 Dec 2025
ECI's SIR Drive Sparks Political Battles
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is doing a big cleanup of voter lists called Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to make sure only the right people can vote.
They have already checked 60 crore voters in 14 states and will check the rest in 2024.
Some people, like Tejashwi Yadav, said their names were wrongly removed, but the ECI said that wasn't true.
In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the ECI and the BJP were trying to stop certain groups from voting.
She started protests to protect these voters.
The ECI says this is just a normal process, but Banerjee and her supporters see it as a big political fight.
The final voter lists will be ready in February 2024.
In West Burdwan, the ECI has issued notices to 1,45,620 unmapped voters and will begin hearings from 27 December 2023.
These voters must appear with valid documents to have their names re-included in the electoral roll.
Failure to do so will result in their names being excluded from the final electoral roll, which will be published on 14 February 2026.
ECI completed SIR in 14 states and UTs, covering 60 crore electors.
Remaining 40 crore electors in 22 states and UTs to be covered in 2024.
Bihar saw polling booth rationalization, reducing voters per booth from 1,500 to 1,200.
ECI added Aadhaar as the 13th document for voter registration following Supreme Court's directive.
Final voter lists to be published in February 2024.
ECI issued notices to 1,45,620 unmapped voters in West Burdwan district.
Hearings for unmapped voters to begin on 27 December 2023 and conclude by 7 February 2026.
Final electoral roll in West Bengal to be published on 14 February 2026.
Asansol North has the highest number of non-mapped voters (25,354), while Jamuria has the lowest (8,503).
Around 3.06 lakh voters' names were deleted in West Burdwan district during Phase I of SIR.
- Who
- Election Commission of India (ECI), Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav
- What
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and political battles over the process
- When
- 2023 and 2024 (SIR), 2025 (political battles)
- Where
- Bihar, West Bengal, and other states
- Why
- To weed out ineligible voters and address political concerns over disenfranchisement
- States Completed
- 14 states and UTs
- States Remaining
- 22 states and UTs
- Total Electors Covered
- 60 crore
- Total Electors Remaining
- 40 crore
- Bihar Polling Booth Rationalization
- Reduced from 1,500 to 1,200 voters per booth
- Aadhaar as Document
- Added as 13th document for voter registration
- SIR Timeline Extension
- Extended in 6 states and UTs
- Final Voters List Publication
- February 2024
- Unmapped Voters in West Burdwan
- 1,45,620
- Hearing Start Date
- 27 December 2023
- Hearing End Date
- 7 February 2026
- Final Electoral Roll Publication
- 14 February 2026
- Highest Non-Mapped Voters
- Asansol North – 25,354
- Lowest Non-Mapped Voters
- Jamuria – 8,503
- Voters Deleted in West Burdwan
- 3.06 lakh
Sources
Battling ‘vote chori’ allegations, EC held roll revision in 14 states, UTs; voters’ list cleanup in remaining 22 states in 2026
From ‘Vote Chori’ to SIR: How Voter Fear Drove Misinformation Cycles in 2025
Three fault lines, one narrative: Mamata Banerjee’s political battles in 2025
CEC Gyanesh Kumar to visit Odisha on Dec 27
Civic polls: Maharashtra SEC extends deadline to publish voters' list by Jan 3
SIR hearings from Dec 27 in Bengal; 32 lakh unmapped voters to be covered
Special intensive revision of electoral rolls | Bihar playbook, Bengal pushback: local officials flag fear of deletions, say being bypassed as EC generates notices
Notices to 1,45,620 unmapped voters in West Burdwan
SIR Exercise Covers Half Of Electorates
SIR a serious issue, conspiracy to limit democratic rights: Kharge at CWC meet
Bengal begins SIR hearings – Everything voters need to know about verification process
SIR hearing in Bengal today. You will need these documents to update your details in 2026 electoral roll
Draft SR electoral roll published in Kamrup Metro, records 1.63% rise in voters
Kharge Flags SIR, Church Attacks; Condemns Hindus Lynching in Bangladesh in CWC Meeting
