Archive · 7 Jan 2026
ECI Asserts Power to Revise Electoral Rolls
The Election Commission of India (ECI) told the Supreme Court that it has the power to update voter lists and make sure no foreigners are included.
They said this is their duty under the Constitution.
The ECI is doing this through a process called Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
They explained that the Constitution focuses on citizens, and important jobs like President and judges must be held by citizens.
The ECI also said they are not making political decisions but following their constitutional duties.
They will continue their arguments later.
The Supreme Court is hearing challenges to the ECI's decision to do this update in some states.
Meanwhile, the Assam Congress has accused the BJP of including temporary voters from other states, which they say threatens Assamese identity and culture.
The ECI has clarified that Indian citizens who have migrated have the right to be included in voter lists.
Another opposition leader, Akhil Gogoi, alleged that the BJP state chief instructed party workers to delete non-BJP voters' names, but the BJP has rejected these charges.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) asserted its constitutional power to revise electoral rolls and exclude foreigners.
Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi argued before the Supreme Court that the Constitution is citizen-centric, citing key provisions like Article 124(3).
The ECI's authority to revise electoral rolls is supported by Articles 324, 325, and 326 of the Constitution and Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act.
Dwivedi emphasized that the ECI's duty is to ensure no foreigners are on the voter lists, and this process is different from the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The Supreme Court is hearing challenges to the ECI's decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in several states.
- Who
- Election Commission of India (ECI), Assam Congress, Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, Debabrata Saikia, Akhil Gogoi, Dilip Saikia
- What
- Assertion of the ECI's power to revise electoral rolls and exclude foreigners, allegations of inclusion of non-Assamese voters, and allegations of deletion of non-BJP voters
- When
- January 6, 2026
- Where
- Supreme Court of India, Assam
- Why
- To ensure only Indian citizens are listed in the electoral rolls and address concerns over the inclusion of non-Assamese voters
Assam Congress
ECI and Assam BJP
Inclusion of Non-Assamese Voters
Assam Congress
Assam Congress accuses the BJP of including temporary voters from other states, threatening Assamese identity and culture.
ECI and Assam BJP
ECI clarifies that Indian citizens who have migrated have the right to be included in voter lists and that complaints can be filed individually.
Deletion of Non-BJP Voters
Assam Congress
Akhil Gogoi of Raijor Dol alleges that BJP state chief Dilip Saikia instructed party workers to delete non-BJP voters' names.
ECI and Assam BJP
Dilip Saikia has rejected these charges, and the ECI has not commented on this specific allegation.
- Organization
- Election Commission of India (ECI)
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Date
- January 6, 2026
- Key Figures
- Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Debabrata Saikia, Akhil Gogoi, Dilip Saikia
- Constitutional Articles
- Articles 324, 325, 326, Article 124(3)
- Legal Act
- Representation of the People Act, Section 16
- Process
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Deceased Electors Identified
- 4,78,992
- Electors Moved
- 5,23,680
- Duplicate Entries Identified
- 53,619
- Total Electors in Draft Roll
- 2,52,01,624
- Increase in Electors
- 1.35% from January 2025
Sources
‘We've Power To Revise Electoral Rolls, Exclude Foreigners’: EC To Supreme Court Amid SIR Row
Uttar Pradesh draft roll out: EC power to verify citizenship flows from Constitution, poll panel tells Supreme Court
