ECI extends SIR deadline by seven days for 12 states

New Delhi: Following fervent demands from opposition parties and reports of ground-level distress, the Election Commission (EC) has granted a seven-day extension for the crucial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists across 12 states and Union Territories. The revised deadline for the final publication of the cleansed voter rolls is now February 14, a move aimed at bolstering the integrity and accuracy of the electoral process amidst mounting pressure.

The decision, confirmed by EC officials today, is a direct response to widespread concerns regarding administrative and logistical hurdles that have hampered progress in several states. Opposition leaders had argued that the initial timeline was "unrealistic," threatening to compromise the meticulous procedural requirements essential for an accurate voter list.

In a detailed three-page order, the Election Commission outlined the revised schedule. The enumeration period, originally scheduled to conclude on December 4, has now been extended to December 11. Consequently, the publication of the draft voter list, initially set for December 9, will now occur on December 16, and the final publication will occur on February 14.

This intervention is being hailed as "significant," particularly as the SIR exercise had become a flashpoint, anticipating a "huge showdown" in Parliament during the winter session set to begin tomorrow.

Earlier this week, a delegation of Trinamool Congress and other opposition leaders met with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi, urging a complete rescheduling and better planning of the SIR exercise. Their plea highlighted the immense pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) tasked with the mammoth door-to-door verification process under an unforgiving schedule.

The human toll of this demanding task has been tragically underscored by reports of BLO suicides emerging from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. With the Bengal election looming early next year, the pressure on the ground has been particularly intense.

In West Bengal, the first stage of the three-level SIR exercise is nearing completion. As of November 29 evening, the EC had identified a staggering 18.70 lakh deceased voters still present in the current electoral rolls. Nationally, the EC has significantly scaled up its estimates, now projecting approximately 35 lakh deletions from the draft list. This comprehensive figure includes not only deceased voters but also duplicate entries, untraceable individuals, and those who have permanently relocated to different states, all crucial steps in purifying the electoral database.

The extended deadline is expected to provide much-needed breathing room for poll officials and BLOs, allowing them to complete the vital exercise with greater diligence and accuracy.