BJD challenges SIR process over dual voter IDs in border villages

The BJD has raised concerns about potential irregularities in the Special Investor Report (SIR) process, claiming that residents of Kotia and Jumdang villages—located in the disputed border region between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh—possess dual voter IDs despite the completion of the survey.

According to the BJD's allegations, villagers in these settlements have retained voter identification cards issued by both state election commissions, suggesting incomplete or inadequate verification during the SIR exercise. The party has questioned how such discrepancies could persist following what was purported to be a comprehensive assessment of the border areas.

The dual voter ID issue raises questions about the electoral roll management in these sensitive border regions, where jurisdictional disputes between the two states have historically complicated administrative procedures. The allegations point to potential gaps in the verification mechanisms employed during the SIR process.

The SIR was undertaken to address administrative and governance issues in the border villages. The BJD's concerns suggest the exercise may not have fully resolved the challenges of maintaining accurate electoral records in these contested areas, potentially creating complications for future electoral processes in the region.