New Delhi:The Election Commission of India (ECI) convened a crucial meeting in the national capital today, bringing together Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other senior election commissioners with Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from all states and union territories. The main agenda: evaluating the possibility of rolling out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls across India , reported the Times of India.
The SIR exercise—recently conducted in Bihar—has sparked significant debate, with several opposition parties, including the RJD, Congress, CPI(M), TMC, and SP, accusing the Commission of disproportionately removing marginalized voters from the rolls . In light of these concerns, the ECI aims to bring uniformity, transparency, and stronger safeguards to the process as it expands.
Scheduled ahead of the 2026 assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, this meeting aims to assess preparedness and finalize the timeline for a nationwide SIR — potentially as early as late 2025 or early 2026 . The Commission is expected to review Bihar’s feedback, address documentation and procedural challenges, and harmonize the process to avoid political and administrative disparities .
