'Today, govt chooses voters': Opposition parties slam Election Commission, BJP on pan-India SIR; who said what

NEW DELHI: The Opposition on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) after it announced Phase 2 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and Union Territories, calling it a “vote theft” exercise designed to benefit the ruling BJP. Several leaders accused the poll body of acting under government pressure, claiming that “in today’s India, it’s not voters who choose the government, but it’s the government that chooses voters.”Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the second phase of SIR will cover 51 crore voters and be held between November and February. “The second phase will be conducted in 12 states and Union Territories. SIR will ensure no eligible elector is left out and no ineligible elector is included in poll rolls,” Kumar said.He added that the enumeration process will begin on November 4, draft rolls will be published on December 9, and final rolls will be out by February 7, 2026.The 12 states and UTs covered under Phase 2 include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.Kumar also clarified that Assam, which goes to polls in 2026, will have a separate SIR exercise due to distinct citizenship provisions.

Congress accuses EC of ‘vote theft’

Reacting sharply, the Congress alleged that the ECI was working in collusion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to manipulate voter rolls. In a post on X, the party said, “The Election Commission is now set to play the game of 'vote theft' in 12 states. In the name of SIR, 6.9 million votes were slashed in Bihar. Now, crores of votes will be slashed across 12 states.”Calling the move a “conspiracy against democracy,” Congress alleged, “This is blatant 'vote theft,' which Narendra Modi and the Election Commission are carrying out together.” “The Election Commission should have been held accountable for these cases. Instead, it has become part of the game of 'vote theft',” it added.

‘Govt now chooses voters’: Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray went a step further, demanding legal action against the poll body. “A case should be registered against the Election Commissioner for the corrupt practice of bogus voters,” Thackeray said. "Voters elect government in a democracy, but today the government chooses voters,” he added.

‘Vote theft exposed in Bihar’: Pawan Khera

Congress leader Pawan Khera echoed similar criticism, questioning the transparency of the SIR process. “We still haven't received answers to questions related to the SIR conducted in Bihar so far. The situation was such that the Supreme Court had to step in to rectify the SIR process,” Khera said on X.He alleged that the EC and the BJP were “working hand in hand.” “The intentions of the Election Commission and the BJP have been exposed to the entire country through the SIR in Bihar,” he said. “Following the revelation of 'vote theft' linked to Rahul Gandhi ji’s Aland Assembly, the SIT has reported that a centralised operation was being carried out to remove names from the voter list,” he added.

‘SIR is a conspiracy against democracy’: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin also hit out at the ECI for scheduling the SIR during the monsoon season. “To carry out Special Intensive Revision just months before the election, and especially during the monsoon months of November and December, brings serious practical difficulties,” he said.“To conduct SIR in a hasty and opaque manner is nothing but a conspiracy by the ECI to rob citizens of their rights and help the BJP,” he added. Stalin announced that an all-party meeting will be held on November 2 in Chennai to discuss the issue and decide on the next course of action. “The right to vote is the foundation of democracy. Tamil Nadu will fight against any attempt to murder it — and Tamil Nadu will win,” he said.

'EC acting as agent'

AAP leader Sanjay Singh told PTI that the Chief Election Commissioner was “acting as an agent of BJP and PM Modi,” alleging that “80 lakh votes were stolen from SIR in Bihar.”Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor dismissed the move as politically motivated: “SIR was done in Bihar. What difference did it make? Was anyone's name struck off? BJP can try all it wants, but if people turn against you, do any SIR or FIR, there will be nobody to save you,” he said.The EC earlier completed Phase 1 of the SIR in Bihar, where the final list of 7.42 crore electors was published on September 30.Polling in Bihar will take place in two phases — on November 6 and November 11 — with counting on November 14.