Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar made the announcement during a press conference on Monday, marking another key step in the poll body's efforts to ensure a clean and updated electoral roll before the next round of elections.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the launch of the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters' list in 12 states and Union Territories. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar made the announcement during a press conference on Monday, marking another key step in the poll body's efforts to ensure a clean and updated electoral roll before the next round of elections.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar, responding to a question about the West Bengal government’s objections to the SIR exercise, said that under the Constitution, 'every Constitutional body is obligated to perform its duties."
He added that West Bengal is among the 12 states and Union Territories where the Election Commission will conduct the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
After successfully completing the SIR exercise in poll-bound Bihar, where assembly elections are scheduled next month, the ECI will now carry out the process in 12 other states and UTs. These include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar said the voter list in these states will be frozen tonight, ensuring that the updated database is ready for verification and final publication.
He added that Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry are among the states where assembly polls are due next year. “The second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' list will be carried out in 12 states,” he confirmed.
During the presser, CEC Gyanesh Kumar announced that Aadhaar numbers will be accepted during the second phase of the SIR to help in voter verification. He also said that new polling stations will be opened during this phase, including some in high-rise buildings to make voting more accessible for urban residents.
“Training of polling officials for Phase-II of SIR will begin on Tuesday,” he added, emphasizing that the ECI is working to strengthen the election infrastructure ahead of major state polls.
The recently concluded SIR in Bihar became a major flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP. Both parties accused each other of influencing the voter roll update as part of their election strategies. Bihar, with its 243 assembly seats, will be a critical battleground when elections take place next month.
With the second phase of SIR rolling out across 12 regions, the Election Commission aims to ensure transparency, accuracy, and inclusiveness in India’s voter registration process — key to conducting free and fair elections.
