Mohan Charan Majhi defends Election Commission voter roll revision

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has accused the Congress party of attempting to create “anarchy” by spreading misinformation regarding the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Addressing allegations that approximately 13 crore names were deleted from voter lists, Majhi clarified that the figure includes 2.8 crore deceased individuals, three crore absent voters, 6.3 crore migrants, and one crore duplicate registrations. He stated that the SIR process is a transparent, technology-driven exercise that has not been centralized, as rolls continue to be managed by state-level Chief Electoral Officers and Electoral Registration Officers.

Majhi also dismissed claims of irregularities regarding Form 6, noting that the form was simplified rather than altered. He emphasized that the process involves Booth Level Agents from all political parties and that the Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the SIR exercise. Additionally, he noted that the revision has not hindered young voters, with 17.38 crore citizens aged 18 to 28 currently in the rolls.