Solapur, Maharashtra: The first stage of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has resulted in the deletion of 6.22 lakh entries from Solapur district’s voters list, according to officials involved in the exercise. The draft list published after the exercise shows 33.18 lakh electors included, down from 39.41 lakh in the pre-SIR roll.
Scale and reasons for deletions
District election officials said the large number of deletions follows a systematic verification of existing entries. Across the region, the SIR process targeted anomalies such as duplicate entries, unsubmitted enumeration forms and records of deceased or shifted voters.
The exercise mirrors a similar effort in neighbouring Kolhapur, where 4.49 lakh entries were deleted and authorities provided a breakdown of reasons such as deaths, migration and duplicates. In Solapur, the draft list shows substantial reductions in certain assembly segments. For instance, the Solapur City Central assembly constituency alone saw 1.15 lakh voters marked for deletion.
“For entries that have anomalies, remedies have been provided through fresh registration using Form 6,” said Mohini Chavan, Deputy District Electoral Registration Officer. “Those who have doubts regarding their voter details can approach us by submitting a simple application with relevant documents.”
Officials emphasised that some deletions were unavoidable. Duplicate and deceased entries were expected to be removed; for others, the administration has issued notices or will allow fresh enrolment where required.
What residents are finding
Local residents checking the draft lists reported a mix of relief and concern. Kasba Bawda resident Sameer Naikawade said family names mostly appeared correctly but pointed out minor discrepancies in spelling that could create problems if not corrected. His example included his wife’s name appearing as "Samir" while his details were recorded as "Sameer," and small differences in name spellings versus Aadhaar records.
- Draft electors in Solapur: 33.18 lakh
- Pre-SIR electors: 39.41 lakh
- Deleted entries in Solapur: 6.22 lakh
The district electoral office said some entries were deleted because the related enumeration forms were not submitted or the voters could not be mapped to valid addresses. The office also noted that the draft list includes electors whose particulars contain anomalies; such electors will receive notices and the process for correction has been outlined by election staff.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Electors in draft list (Solapur) | 33.18 lakh |
| Electors pre-SIR (Solapur) | 39.41 lakh |
| Deleted entries (Solapur) | 6.22 lakh |
| Deleted entries (Kolhapur, for comparison) | 4.49 lakh |
Deputy officers handling the SIR reminded voters that the draft is not final. The Election Commission’s statutory process provides time for claims and objections, and for citizens to submit fresh registrations where their names have been removed in error. Officials urged residents to verify details promptly and to use Form 6 for enrolment where needed.
Local civic activists and political observers said the exercise, while aimed at cleaning the rolls, must be managed carefully to avoid disenfranchisement. They called for widespread public awareness, help desks at municipal offices and clear guidance so eligible voters are not left out ahead of any forthcoming electoral events.
Election authorities have advised voters to check the published draft lists at designated centres or online, follow the prescribed procedure for corrections and retain acknowledgement receipts for any applications submitted.
