‘Process itself was not transparent’: Mahua Moitra targets EC before SIR voter list release

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has raised serious questions over the transparency of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process just ahead of the publication of the final voter list. She alleged that discrepancies and irregularities had already surfaced during the hearing stage, making it difficult to expect fairness in the final roll. With the revised list set to be released shortly, her remarks have added to the political tension surrounding the exercise.

Moitra claimed that concerns were evident from the very beginning of the SIR process. According to her, many voters did not receive adequate notice, document verification lacked consistency, and there was no uniform approach in disposing of objections. She alleged that even voters who submitted clear and valid documents were subjected to unnecessary harassment during hearings.

“When the process itself was not transparent during the hearings, talking about transparency in the final list is meaningless,” she said, adding that the voter list is the most crucial document in a democracy. She argued that doubts over its preparation could directly affect the fairness of elections and undermine public confidence in the system.

The MP further alleged that similar cases were treated differently in various locations, with some names reportedly removed without clear reasons while objections in other cases were not properly examined. She described the situation as a direct attack on voters’ rights and questioned whether the Election Commission was functioning with the impartiality expected of it.

Moitra demanded that detailed information about the SIR process — including the number of objections received, cases resolved, and reasons for deletions — be made public and shared with political parties. She warned that if valid voters’ names were removed in large numbers, her party would pursue democratic and legal remedies. As the final list release approaches, the political climate remains charged, with the Election Commission yet to issue an official response to the allegations.