India opposition coalition urges Chief Justice to halt voter‑roll revision process

A coalition of 23 opposition leaders from parties such as the Congress, AAP, DMK, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and others sent a joint letter to Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant. The letter, dated June 28, demanded the immediate suspension of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) programme, describing it as politically motivated and disenfranchising millions of voters, especially the poor, Dalits, Adivasis and minorities.

The opposition cited data that around six crore names have been removed from electoral rolls nationwide, including 65 lakh in Bihar and 27 lakh voters in West Bengal. A tribunal hearing appeals found that 96 % of contested deletions were wrongful. The letter also called for a public debate on restoring paper ballots and warned that the use of investigative agencies to target opponents threatens democratic institutions.