The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has intensified in Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur district, where administrative teams are working extended hours to ensure timely completion of the process. Officials are conducting verification and uploading forms late into the night to meet the mandated deadlines.
Burhanpur District SIR Officer Rajesh Patidar said that the revision work has gained significant momentum, with Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) carrying out door-to-door verification. Office teams simultaneously continue uploading completed forms well past regular working hours to maintain progress and avoid delays. According to him, both Assembly constituencies in the district are being monitored closely, with coordinated teams managing verification and data entry in a phased and systematic manner.
The local administration expects the voter list revision to conclude within the prescribed schedule, supported by round-the-clock supervision and a team-based approach aimed at ensuring error-free electoral rolls.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the intensified clean-up drive, calling it an important step toward greater transparency in the electoral system. However, the exercise has faced growing criticism from opposition parties. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday, raising objections to the SIR process. She described the exercise as “unplanned,” “chaotic,” and “dangerous,” and is expected to address an anti-SIR rally in Bangaon, North 24 Parganas, on November 25.
The rally will be followed by a protest march, her second demonstration against the ongoing SIR. Her first anti-SIR protest was held in Kolkata on November 4.
The Election Commission launched the second phase of the nationwide Special Intensive Revision on November 4. This phase spans nine states and three Union Territories, covering approximately 51 crore electors. BLOs have begun distributing enumeration forms as part of the drive, which is scheduled to continue until December 4. During this period, more than 5.3 lakh BLOs will visit households at least three times to distribute and collect forms, ensuring maximum voter coverage and updated records.
Along with BLOs, 7.64 lakh Booth-Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties, 10,448 electoral registration officers and assistant officers, and 321 district election officers have been deployed to manage the exercise across India. The Election Commission has emphasised the need for a smooth, voter-friendly revision process across all participating regions.
A total of 12 states and Union Territories are currently undergoing the SIR process, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Among these, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry are set to vote in 2026, making the revision exercise particularly significant.
The first phase of the SIR was conducted in Bihar earlier this year, resulting in the removal of more than 68 lakh names from the electoral rolls.
