Congress attacks electoral process as Delhi faces mass deletion notices

The Congress party has launched a sharp critique of the Special Inclusion-Exclusion Review (SIR) process, characterizing it as a mechanism designed to disenfranchise Indian voters. Senior party leader Jairam Ramesh cited deletion data spanning three phases of the review to support the party's allegations of systematic voter removal.

According to the data presented by Ramesh, Delhi has issued more than 33.13 lakh notices to voters, citing discrepancies found in enumeration forms. The notices have prompted concerns among opposition parties about the scale and potential impact on electoral participation in the capital.

The SIR, implemented as part of electoral rolls management, has been designed to identify and remove ineligible entries from voter lists. However, Congress leaders argue that the process lacks adequate safeguards to prevent legitimate voters from being struck off the rolls. The party contends that the volume of notices issued raises questions about the methodology employed during the review process.

Electoral management officials have indicated that the notices are issued when enumeration data contains inconsistencies or when voters fail to respond to verification requests. The Congress party's challenge reflects broader concerns within opposition circles regarding voter rolls management practices ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.