Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday welcomed the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to launch the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and Union Territories, calling it a “positive step” to ensure greater accuracy in the voter list, news agency ANI reported.
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On the second phase of SIR, Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule says, “…The list of my area has 5 lakh 40 thousand votes. If someone goes somewhere else, they are added to that area as well, but there is no deletion. They go somewhere… pic.twitter.com/1IKF1jhw5v
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2025
Bawankule said such exercises are crucial for maintaining transparency in the electoral process.
“The list in my area has around 5.4 lakh names. When people move elsewhere, they are added to the new area’s list but not deleted from the old one. Without such surveys, errors will continue. The Election Commission has taken a very good step,” he told reporters.
The second phase of SIR will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The first phase was conducted in Bihar in September.
Meanwhile, the move has drawn criticism from the Opposition, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan describing it as “a direct challenge to the democratic process”.
Defending the EC’s initiative, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma also said that the SIR is essential to ensure clean and transparent elections. “There are people who died 10 years ago, yet their names remain on the list. Infiltrators are also casting votes. This step is a threat to those who manipulate the system,” he told ANI.
According to the EC`s schedule, printing and training will take place between October 28 and November 3, followed by field enumeration from November 4 to December 4. Draft rolls will be published on December 9, with the claims and objections period running until January 8, 2026. Hearings and verifications will be conducted through January 31, and the final electoral rolls will be released on February 7, 2026.
Shiv Sena backs nationwide voter roll revision, seeks completion before civic polls in Maharashtra
The Shiv Sena has extended full support to the Election Commission’s nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing it as a crucial step toward strengthening electoral transparency and integrity ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Advocate Susieben Shah termed the SIR a “nation-building reform” that reinforces India’s democratic framework by ensuring that “every genuine citizen’s vote is counted once, and only once.”
“Maharashtra has witnessed rapid migration, urban expansion and demographic changes in recent years, leading to inaccuracies in local electoral rolls,” Shah said. “Before the municipal elections, it is crucial that these errors are corrected through a comprehensive SIR process. This is not politics; this is about the purity of democracy. The SIR will protect the voter’s right and prevent manipulation in municipal elections.”
Reaffirming the party’s faith in the Election Commission’s constitutional authority under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Shiv Sena urged the Commission to complete the SIR across every ward and division in the state to eliminate bogus or duplicate entries that could distort the electoral mandate.
Shah also highlighted Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s commitment to transparent and technology-driven governance. “Maharashtra, which has pioneered digital policing, e-governance and data integration, will fully cooperate in implementing the SIR effectively and fairly,” she said.
Earlier on Monday, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that the Election Commission will conduct the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories between November and February.
(With ANI inputs)
