• Source:JND
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EC's SIR Rollout: The Election Commission (EC) is set to roll out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which will undergo assembly elections next year amid political outrage in the state on Tuesday. The controversial revision of the voter list soared the political temperatures to a high level in both states, with the ruling TMC and DMK's grassroots resistance ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. The voter list revision in these states and Union territories with 51 crore voters will conclude on February 7, 2026, with the publication of the final electoral roll.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu: Day Before Voter List Revision Starts, DMK Challenges SIR In Supreme Court

Why EC Conducting SIR?

According to the poll body, the primary aim of SIR is to weed out illegal foreign migrants by checking their place of birth. The move assumes significance in the wake of a crackdown in various states on illegal migrants, including those from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Here Are The Key Factors Of The Poll Body's Process

1. The states and UTs that will undergo the SIR process are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Among these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and West Bengal will go to polls in 2026.

ALSO READ: SIR In UP: Door-To-Door Voter Verification In Kasganj From Today; Check Documents Required

2. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, termed the upcoming protest by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) as a 'deliberate' step to divert attention from the real issues.

3. The EC will release the draft electoral rolls on December 9, and the final electoral rolls will be published on February 7.

4. The EC is of the view that SIR will ensure that no eligible elector is left out and no ineligible elector is included in the electoral rolls.

5. The last SIR in states will serve as the cut-off date, just as the 2003 voter list of Bihar was used by the EC for intensive revision. Most states had the last SIR between 2002 and 2004, and they have nearly completed the mapping of current electors according to it.

6. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee to hold a march in Kolkata on Tuesday to protest against the SIR.

7. On the other hand, BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari will also lead a procession in the North 24 Parganas district demanding the removal of infiltrators through the SIR process.

8. While the BJP has welcomed the SIR as a step towards ensuring greater transparency in the electoral rolls, the TMC in West Bengal and DMK in Tamil Nadu have questioned its timing and intent, alleging that the EC is acting under pressure from the saffron party to manipulate the voter list ahead of the state elections.

9. The DMK on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the SIR of the Electoral Roll and seeking quashing of the October 27 notification of the ECI, in which the poll body directed the conduct of the electoral roll revision.

1. Documents require for the SIR are : Any identity cards, pension payment order issued to a regular employee/pensioner of any central government/State govt/PSU, Birth certificate, passport, educational certificate, permanent resident certificate, Forest Rights Certificate, OBC/ST/SC or any caste certificate, Forest Rights Certificate, OBC/ST/SC or any caste certificate, National Register of Citizens (wherever it exists), family register prepared by State/Local authorities and any land/house allotment certificate by government.

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