Odisha CM Mohan Majhi Backs SIR Amid Opposition Protests, Stresses Protection Of Every Eligible Voter
Majhi also underlined that the exercise must not result in the wrongful exclusion of any legitimate voter. He said electoral fairness, equal representation and the sanctity of every vote depended on reliable records and the careful implementation of the revision process
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing it as a necessary exercise to safeguard electoral integrity, as Opposition parties intensified their protests against the process in New Delhi.
In a statement on social media platform X, Majhi argued that accurate electoral rolls were fundamental to free and fair elections and public confidence in democracy. He said the revision was essential to identify discrepancies, remove duplicate entries, update records of deceased persons and voters who had changed residence, and ensure that eligible citizens were included in the rolls.
“Clean and accurate electoral rolls are fundamental to this trust,” the Chief Minister said, pointing to duplicate entries, outdated records and the continued presence of deceased persons’ names as factors that could undermine the credibility of voter lists.
However, Majhi also underlined that the exercise must not result in the wrongful exclusion of any legitimate voter. He said electoral fairness, equal representation and the sanctity of every vote depended on reliable records and the careful implementation of the revision process.
His remarks come amid a widening political confrontation over the SIR, with Opposition parties questioning the manner in which the Election Commission of India (ECI) has conducted the exercise and raising concerns over the deletion of large numbers of names from electoral rolls. The Opposition has demanded accountability and safeguards to prevent eligible voters from being disenfranchised. The ECI, meanwhile, has maintained that the revision aims to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls.
In Odisha, the exercise has also resulted in a substantial reduction in the number of registered electors. More than 17 lakh names were deleted during the revision, with the final electoral roll published on September 21 recording 3.16 crore electors, compared with 3.33 crore before the exercise. A subsequent special drive saw 1,448 voters who had been left out submit applications seeking inclusion.
Majhi’s position reflected the BJP government’s defence of the revision exercise, while the Opposition’s objections centre on its implementation and the potential consequences for voters whose names may have been removed.
