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Voter List Battle: Why Akhilesh, Mamata Fear Electoral Roll Revision Amid BJP Claims

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has called transparent voter lists every citizen's responsibility. The BJP has accused opposition leaders of objecting to the electoral revision to protect their vote banks. Akhilesh Yadav alleges the BJP is targeting thousands of votes in constituencies where the INDIA bloc performed well. Meanwhile, the Election Commission is proceeding with its nationwide Special Intensive Revision schedule across 12 states.

Key Points: Pathak Defends Voter List Revision as BJP Slams Opposition Leaders

  • UP Deputy CM emphasizes citizen responsibility in maintaining transparent electoral rolls
  • BJP leader predicts opposition parties will lose seats over voter list objections
  • Akhilesh Yadav alleges BJP targeting 50,000 votes in INDIA bloc strongholds
  • Election Commission sets February 2026 deadline for final voter list publication
3 min read

Transparent voter list is every citizen's duty: UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak on nationwide SIR

UP Deputy CM calls transparent voter lists every citizen's duty as BJP alleges Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee protecting vote banks through SIR objections.

"There should be a transparent list, which is the duty of every citizen, and the Election Commission is working in that direction... - Brajesh Pathak"

Kanpur, November 23

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Saturday responded to Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's remarks on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stating that maintaining a transparent and accurate voter list is the responsibility of every citizen and emphasising that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is working diligently to ensure clarity in the process.

Speaking to reporters, Pathak said, "There should be a transparent list, which is the duty of every citizen, and the Election Commission is working in that direction..."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gaurav Vallabh also criticised Akhilesh Yadav and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that their objections to the SIR process are politically motivated and aimed at protecting their vote banks.

"This is the same thing that Tejashwi Yadav said 6 months before the election, as a result, they came down to 25 seats and now the same thing is being said by Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav. They will be confined to even fewer than 25 seats... There are no elections in Rajasthan, but the SIR process is going on there; in other states where there are no elections, SIR is also going on. These people are saying such things because the people who are being removed (from the voter list) are their vote banks and now they (Akhilesh Yadav) feel that their existence will be wiped out," Vallabh told ANI.

Earlier on Saturday, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to eliminate at least 50,000 votes from constituencies where the INDIA bloc performed strongly in the 2024 elections.

"The most important point is that the BJP, its government, its officials, and the Election Commission are working together to cancel over 50,000 votes in the assembly constituencies where the Samajwadi Party and the INDIA Alliance won in 2024, using the pretext of SIR," Akhilesh Yadav told reporters here.

He further alleged that similar plans are in place in West Bengal too, calling for people and parties to be vigilant.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will conduct the second phase of Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across 12 states and union territories, with the final voter list to be published on February 7, 2026.

The first phase of the SIR was conducted in Bihar in September, ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.

The exercise will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

According to the Election Commission, printing and training will take place from October 28 to November 3, followed by an Enumeration Phase from November 4 to December 4.

The Draft Electoral Rolls will be published on December 9, followed by a claims and objection period from December 9 to January 8, 2026.

The Notice Phase (for hearing and verification) will take place between December 9 and January 31, 2026, with publication of Final Electoral Rolls on February 7, 2026.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
As a responsible citizen, I completely agree with Deputy CM Pathak. Last election, there were multiple voters at my address who had moved out years ago. Regular cleaning of voter lists is necessary for democracy to function properly.
A
Anjali F
While transparency is important, I'm concerned about genuine voters being removed. The process should be fair and give adequate time for corrections. Many people in rural areas might not be aware of these revisions. 🏘️
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see this debate. In democratic countries worldwide, maintaining accurate voter lists is standard practice. The opposition's resistance does raise questions about their motives. The timeline seems reasonable for people to verify their details.
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Vikram M
Both sides are playing politics as usual. The real issue is ensuring no legitimate voter is disenfranchised. The Election Commission should conduct extensive awareness campaigns, especially in villages where people might not check online portals regularly.
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Karthik V
Just checked my voter details online and everything is correct! 👍 The process is actually quite simple. Instead of political blame games, parties should help citizens verify their information. This is about strengthening our democracy, not scoring political points.

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