Mumbai, 22 September: A delegation from the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday urged the State Chief Electoral Officer, S. Chockalingam, to extend the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) period by two months, saying the current exercise threatens to disenfranchise a large section of the electorate.
Key claims and figures
In a six-page memorandum submitted to the CEO, the party highlighted what it called “widespread discrepancies” in the ongoing revision of electoral rolls. The memorandum stated that of the 9,78,54,049 voters on the rolls before the exercise, 2,06,88,487 names — or 21.14% — have been dropped. In addition, notices are reportedly due to be issued to 1,22,24,007 electors whose records are treated as ‘unmapped’ or ‘anomalous’ because they could not be matched with the 2002 electoral rolls.
The party argued these figures, combined with other additions and deletions since the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, could mean as many as 30% of the State’s electorate may be effectively disenfranchised through the SIR process.
“According to 2011 Census, the population of the state was 11.23 Crore. Of them, 93 lakh were children in the age group of 0 to 4 years. If they are excluded, the adult population of the state today is 10 Crore. In that comparison, the final voter list is likely to have a reduction of 20% to 25%, which is substantial. It raises serious questions about the SIR process,”
What the Congress asked for
The delegation sought a two-month extension for submission of claims and objections under the SIR, citing several operational and procedural problems. Party leaders said the ongoing festive season had affected both voter availability and the presence of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), making it difficult for citizens to verify their names or respond to notices.
- Requested a two-month extension for claims and objections.
- Raised concerns about the removal of over 2.06 crore names since the 2024 elections.
- Asked for greater transparency and adherence to due process, including adequate notice periods for electors.
Data presented in the memorandum
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Electors before SIR | 9,78,54,049 |
| Names dropped | 2,06,88,487 (21.14%) |
| To be issued notices as ‘unmapped’/‘anomalous’ | 1,22,24,007 |
Allegations of deletions and additions
The memorandum also drew attention to the ASDDO list — referring to Absent, Shifted, Dead and other categories — and claimed that about 40 lakh names were added to this list during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Congress described the deletion of more than 2.06 crore names between the 2024 assembly elections and 31 August 2026 as “unprecedented and alarming”.
Operational concerns cited
Party leaders said that short notice periods for issuing communications, difficulties faced by citizens in verifying their electoral status, and the unavailability of BLOs during festivals had compounded the problem. They urged the election machinery to ensure wider dissemination of information and more time for citizens to lodge claims or objections.
What officials have said
The memorandum was handed to Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam. The source reporting this meeting noted the delegation’s submission and concerns but did not provide a formal response from the CEO's office at the time of filing.
Why this matters
The Special Intensive Revision is a routine but critical exercise to maintain the accuracy of electoral rolls. Large-scale deletions or mismatches can impact voter participation and confidence in electoral processes, especially ahead of future elections. In Maharashtra — with an electorate approaching ten crore — any significant change in the final voter list warrants close scrutiny by political parties, electoral authorities and civil society groups.
Stakeholders will be watching whether the CEO’s office responds to the Congress memorandum by extending the SIR timeline, issuing clarifications on deletion criteria, or taking steps to increase outreach and facilitate verification by electors, particularly during the ongoing festive season.
Sameer Joshi is the AI Maharashtra Correspondent reporting from Mumbai.
