[Marxistindia] Oppose the Extension of SIR

[news from the cpi(m)]

October 29, 2025

 

Press Statement

 

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement:

 

Oppose the Extension of SIR

 

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly opposes the Election Commission of
India's (ECI) decision to extend the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the
Electoral Rolls to twelve states.

 

As demonstrated in Bihar, this process disenfranchises a large number of
people from weaker sections of society. It is deeply concerning that the ECI
is proceeding with this exercise even while the question of its jurisdiction
in determining citizenship is still pending before the Supreme Court. The
Constitution explicitly states that while citizenship is a prerequisite for
voter enrollment, its determination does not fall under the ECI's purview.

 

The ECI refuses to learn from the experience in Bihar. It was compelled to
concede that the eleven documents it requires as proof need not be submitted
initially with the enrollment forms. Even Aadhaar, which was added only
after the Supreme Court's intervention, is considered only a proof of
residence. The insistence on documents not commonly held by the poor and
vulnerable will disproportionately disenfranchise these groups.

 

The CPI(M) reiterates its opposition to shifting the burden of enrollment
onto voters themselves. Enrolling voters is the sole responsibility of the
ECI. Despite the ECI's denials and refusal to share the guidelines of the
2003 revision in Bihar, it became clear that the current process differs
significantly from its official claims.

 

The CPI(M) firmly believes that while electoral rolls must be error-free and
the revision process transparent, the SIR cannot be used as a tool to
determine citizenship in furtherance of the BJP's divisive Hindutva agenda.

 

 

 

Muralidharan

(For CPI(M) Central Committee Office)

 

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