Delhi's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is ongoing, with over one crore forms distributed. Residents must submit enumeration forms to Booth Level Officers by July 29. Those not in 2002 rolls can link through a parent/grandparent.
A 45-year-old teacher allegedly jumped from Rani Jhansi Flyover in New Delhi, citing excessive work pressure in a handwritten note. Anand Kumar Saroha, a math teacher assigned to electoral roll revision duties, sustained multiple injuries but is in stable condition.
NDA leaders filed a complaint with Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They demand a probe and door-to-door re-verification, accusing officials of disregarding process and potentially including illegal immigrants. CM Shivakumar denied interference, stating the government is raising awareness.
Nearly 22 lakh voters have been removed from draft electoral rolls in Odisha, Manipur, Mizoram, and Sikkim as part of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision. Deaths and electors who have shifted residence account for most deletions, with Odisha seeing over 20 lakh removals. Manipur reported the highest proportion of anomalies.
Twenty-three opposition parties, including DMK and AAP, have jointly written to the Chief Justice of India expressing concerns over the ongoing electoral roll revision exercise. They allege the Election Commission is biased and manipulating the process to favor the BJP, citing issues with data quality and varied timelines across states.
Twenty-three opposition parties, including DMK and AAP, have sent a joint letter to the Chief Justice of India expressing concerns over the ongoing revision of electoral rolls. They allege the process is manipulated to favor the BJP and question the Election Commission's impartiality.
India's Editors Guild has condemned the denial of voting and passport rights to former editor R Rajagopal, whose name was removed from the electoral roll in West Bengal during a controversial voter list revision by the Election Commission, an exercise critics say has disenfranchised millions.
Actor Prakash Raj has been issued a third non-bailable warrant by a Bengaluru court for failing to appear in a case alleging his name appeared on multiple electoral rolls across four states. The next hearing is scheduled for July 25.
Telangana Congress leaders met the chief electoral officer, urging a transparent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They expressed concern that the process might target "secular votes" and requested an extension, citing no immediate elections.
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar urged Congress workers to act as help desks during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, warning that eligible voters could be excluded, potentially harming opposition parties. He called for vigilance to assist voters, especially migrant workers, in completing enumeration processes.
Telangana's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls faces challenges as political parties flag gaps, especially in urban areas. Concerns linger over Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) physically reaching every voter, with inadequate household visits potentially leading to disputes over omissions.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has criticized the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging it could disenfranchise Muslims, women, migrants, and the poor. He claims the exercise is a precursor to identifying illegal immigrants and questioned the need for a review committee.
The Election Commission of India begins Phase 3 of its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, covering 16 states and 3 Union Territories, aiming to ensure only eligible voters are included, with the process concluding between September and December.
The SIR of electoral rolls became one of the most fiercely debated issues in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, with the exercise significantly reshaping the state’s voter base before polling. Nearly 91 lakh names, around 12 per cent of the electorate, were removed during the revision process. Of these, more than 60 lakh voters were marked as deceased, while nearly 27 lakh cases remained pending or under scrutiny.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor raised concerns about the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, suggesting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls may have influenced the BJP's victory. He highlighted the removal of 91 lakh names, with 34 lakh appeals pending adjudication, questioning the fairness of the process given the BJP's 30 lakh vote margin.
West Bengal witnessed a significant political shift as the BJP formed its first government, largely influenced by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This exercise, which removed nearly 12% of voters, disproportionately affected minority communities and became a central, contentious issue, reshaping voting trends and contributing to the BJP's surge across the state.
Four individuals including a PSU officer, assistant teacher, medical professional and insurance agent have approached Calcutta High Court after their names were deleted from Bengal's electoral rolls during SIR, threatening their employment and professional licences. The deletions have affected 27 lakh people in the state, with petitioners fearing citizenship questions could lead to service termination and licence cancellation. A 32-year-old doctor needs to prove citizenship to appear for the INI-CET exam on May 16.
Sk Ibrahim, a 104-year-old resident of Jamalpur in East Burdwan, West Bengal, successfully cast his vote in the recent election after facing administrative issues with his voter registration. His name had been placed under adjudication due to a discrepancy between his name appearing as 'Sk Ibrahim' in 2002 and 'Ibrahim Sk' in 2025. After his name appeared on the supplementary list, the administration provided him transport and wheelchair assistance to vote.
Kolkata's special electoral roll revision left many families fractured on poll day. While some voted, lakhs were disenfranchised as their names were deleted. Instances like Mariam Zaki, whose father and grandfather couldn't vote, and former MP Tarun Mandal highlight the widespread disappointment and confusion caused by the process, leaving many questioning the fairness of the deletions.
Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju attacked AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal claiming all good people have left the party after seven Rajya Sabha MPs resigned and joined BJP. Rijiju rejected allegations of coercion by central agencies, stating the investigation agencies do their work. He accused Kejriwal of turning AAP into his private party and said only those engaged in illegal activities remain. The BJP leader also targeted the INDIA bloc, alleging internal divisions and accusing opposition leaders of uniting only to loot. The mass exodus saw two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha members including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal join BJP, boosting the party's strength to 113 MPs.
A 50-year-old orphan in Kolkata has been removed from the electoral roll after the Election Commission refused to recognize his foster mother as his guardian, citing his inability to provide biological parent details.
Voters in West Bengal are rushing home ahead of Wednesday's second phase of polling, causing airfares to surge 2-3 times normal rates. Flight tickets from Delhi to Kolkata now cost Rs 13,000-20,000 (normally Rs 6,000-7,500), while Mumbai-Kolkata routes have climbed to Rs 14,000-22,000. Train fares have also spiked with AC 3-tier tickets from Delhi reaching Rs 1,700-3,200. Voters cite fear of their names disappearing from electoral rolls as the driving factor, with many making expensive one-day return trips just to vote.
Benji, a 50-year-old man born in Kerala into loss and raised in an orphanage, found a home with the Baral family in Kolkata's Beleghata in 1999. After years of persuasion, he obtained a voter ID and voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, during the Election Commission's Special Intervention Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, officials rejected his claim that octogenarian Padmarani Baral is his guardian, citing lack of documentary proof of their relationship. With no records of his biological parents, his name was deleted from the rolls, leaving him stranded between identity and proof.
Opposition parties in India have submitted a fresh notice in Rajya Sabha seeking to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with 73 MPs signing the motion. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged nine specific charges of proven misbehaviour related to acts committed after March 15, 2026, calling Kumar's continuation an assault on the Constitution. The opposition accuses the CEC of partial conduct, particularly regarding Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and West Bengal. Earlier impeachment notices were rejected by the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman.
