27 September,2026 03:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar raised questions over the centralisation of voter verification during the SIR exercise. File Pic
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Sunday claimed that the number of voters excluded during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Maharashtra could rise from the current 2.07 crore to nearly 3 crore, alleging irregularities in the verification process.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Pawar targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged that the process of verifying voter records had been centralised with the Election Commission.
Pawar claimed that Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) in some areas conducted "table surveys" instead of physically verifying voters. He also alleged that information was being supplied by BJP workers.
According to Pawar, such instances had been reported in Pune, Nashik and Thane, but he questioned the alleged lack of action despite complaints being submitted to election officials.
"Out of the 1.22 crore under scrutiny, some people will definitely be disqualified, and the figure of 2.07 crore deleted voters could increase further and may even reach 3 crore," Pawar said.
Official data released during the SIR exercise showed Maharashtra has 9.78 crore registered voters, while enumeration forms relating to 2.07 crore voters remained uncollected. Pawar said officials attributed such cases to voters being deceased, untraceable, permanently shifted or having duplicate entries.
Pawar also alleged that errors remained in voter records even after the SIR exercise, citing cases where living people were shown as deceased and instances where photographs and gender details did not match voter records.
He claimed that the verification process had been centralised and decisions concerning voter records were being taken through a system based in Delhi.
Pawar said he had submitted evidence and suggestions to Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam to establish whether physical verification had actually been conducted for certain voters in his Karjat-Jamkhed constituency.
Pawar claimed that the ongoing SIR exercise, along with delimitation, could pose a threat to the Constitution and democracy. He appealed to Opposition parties, social organisations and citizens to come together to protect voting rights and reservations.
"What is happening is extremely dangerous for the Constitution and democracy. If delimitation and SIR are brought together, the BJP may feel that it can somehow win in 2029. Whether people exist or not would not matter. I feel we are moving towards Russia," he said.
Pawar also alleged that 40-50 lakh voters were added in Maharashtra between the Lok Sabha and assembly elections through Form 6, and claimed a similar exercise could be repeated.
He further said the CJP protest should seek wider electoral reforms, including removal of EVMs and greater transparency and technological safeguards.
"If the agitation is against Gyanesh Kumar, for removing EVMs and for replacing the present process with a transparent one, then as a citizen I see no problem in giving support to such an agitation," he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
