ECI set to announce Pan-India SIR dates Monday
Initially, the exercise targets states with elections due next year.
Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to announce the dates for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on Monday, October 27, with a special focus on states where Assembly elections are scheduled next year, including West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. The much-anticipated announcement comes amid growing political attention in these states, where the revision of voter lists has always carried both administrative and political significance.
The ECI has called a press conference at 4:30 p.m. at its headquarters in New Delhi, where Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar is likely to unveil the schedule for the upcoming revision drive. According to officials, while the SIR will eventually be conducted across the country, the immediate phase will focus on states going to the polls in 2026. These include West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The Special Intensive Revision is a crucial pre-election exercise aimed at updating and verifying electoral rolls to ensure that every eligible voter is included and any discrepancies are rectified. It involves door-to-door verification by booth-level officers (BLOs), claims and objections hearings, and public display of voter lists for transparency. Given its importance, the process often becomes a politically sensitive issue—especially in states like West Bengal, where voter list integrity has historically been a matter of intense debate.
In fact, West Bengal has witnessed heated discussions over the conduct of SIR since the very beginning. Political parties have raised concerns ranging from the accuracy of the voters’ list to the neutrality of officials appointed for the task. The CPI(M)-led Left Front, while not opposed to the revision exercise in principle, has urged the Election Commission to ensure that no genuine voter’s name is deleted during the verification process. Opposition parties have also demanded greater oversight in the appointment of BLOs and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), fearing potential bias or errors.
West Bengal’s last Special Intensive Revision was conducted more than two decades ago, in 2002. Since then, the state has undergone major demographic and political changes, making this year’s revision particularly significant. Political analysts note that the updated rolls could play a decisive role in shaping the electoral landscape for the 2026 Assembly elections, especially in districts where migration, urban expansion, and political realignments have shifted voter bases.
Meanwhile, in Bihar, where Assembly polls are due next month, the SIR process has already been completed in two phases. Officials said the lessons learned from Bihar’s exercise will be used to streamline the upcoming rounds in other states.
For states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, the revision is expected to proceed smoothly, as the Election Commission has maintained an established mechanism for periodic roll updates. However, Bengal’s politically charged environment may test the Commission’s ability to maintain transparency and trust among all parties.
The announcement of SIR dates is expected to mark the beginning of months of administrative activity, with state election offices mobilizing thousands of BLOs and supervisors to carry out the verification process. Once completed, the updated rolls will serve as the foundation for next year’s Assembly elections—ensuring that every eligible citizen has an opportunity to cast their vote.
As political parties prepare to gear up for campaign season, Monday’s announcement is likely to be closely watched—not just for its administrative implications, but for what it signals about the Election Commission’s readiness to ensure free, fair, and inclusive elections across India.