05 October,2026 12:10 PM IST | Lucknow | mid-day online correspondent
Yogi Adityanath. File Pic
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday backed the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying that identifying and removing ineligible names that have been illegally included in voter lists is necessary to protect India's security, unity and integrity.
His remarks came amid protests by opposition parties and civil society groups against the SIR exercise and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Critics of the revision have alleged that the exercise could result in eligible voters being removed from electoral rolls. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and maintained that the revision is being conducted under established procedures.
In a post on X, Adityanath said the SIR exercise was important for strengthening India's democratic system and ensuring that electoral rolls accurately reflect eligible voters.
He said India had upheld democratic values for centuries and described the revision as an effort to further strengthen that democratic tradition.
"Identifying ineligible names illegally included in the voter list and removing them as per rules is essential for India's security, unity and integrity," he said.
The chief minister's comments come at a time when the SIR exercise has become a major political issue, with opposition parties questioning the process and alleging that eligible voters could be excluded from electoral rolls.
The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the exercise is intended to identify and correct inaccuracies in voter lists and that the statutory process provides safeguards for voters to raise claims and objections. The ECI's voter services portal currently provides facilities to search SIR records, submit documents against notices and register new voters.
Adityanath specifically referred to the need to verify electoral-roll entries involving deceased voters, people who have permanently shifted from their registered addresses and duplicate entries.
He said such verification was necessary to ensure that electoral rolls remain accurate and that only eligible voters are included.
The Election Commission's SIR-related material similarly identifies categories such as absent, shifted, dead and duplicate electors for verification. In Maharashtra, for example, the Chief Electoral Officer's website has published information relating to the ASDD - absent, shifted, dead and duplicate - category as part of the SIR exercise.
The identification of such entries does not by itself mean that every name flagged will be permanently removed. The electoral-roll process includes mechanisms through which eligible voters can provide documents and raise claims or objections.
Adityanath also appealed to people who have attained the age of 18 to ensure that their names are included in the electoral roll.
"Let us participate in building a clean, strong and transparent voter list," he said.
The Election Commission's voter services portal similarly directs citizens who are 18 or above, or who will turn 18 in the coming months, to use Form 6 for new voter registration.
The emphasis on registering newly eligible voters comes amid the broader revision of electoral rolls in several states. Election authorities have also been conducting campaigns and providing mechanisms for eligible people who were left out or whose records require correction to seek inclusion.
Adityanath's comments contrast with the position taken by opposition parties, which have accused the Election Commission of conducting the SIR in a manner that could disenfranchise eligible voters.
The issue has triggered protests in several parts of the country, including Delhi and Mumbai. Thousands of protesters took part in demonstrations on October 4 demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, with opposition leaders alleging irregularities in the electoral-roll revision. The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected claims that the exercise is intended to benefit the ruling party.
The Election Commission has continued to defend the SIR and its procedures amid the political controversy. The poll panel has maintained that the exercise is aimed at cleaning up electoral rolls while ensuring that eligible voters are not excluded.
(With inputs from PTI)
