"Great effort to strengthen transparent, impartial elections": BJP's Dinesh Sharma on SIR

New Delhi [India], October 28 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Dinesh Sharma on Tuesday backed the announcement of a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, terming the initiative a significant step to enhance the transparency and impartiality of elections in India.
Addressing ANI, Sharma said, "This is a very big step, and it is a great effort to strengthen the possibilities of a transparent and impartial election... There are people who died 10 years ago, but other people in their place are casting a vote. There are infiltrators who are casting votes in India... It is a threat to those who capture the vote."
Sharma emphasised that free and fair elections are possible only when the voter list is accurate and transparent. He considered that the people opposing the SIR are opposing the need for transparent elections.
"It is a threat to those who loot these booths. It is a threat to those who bring these infiltrators, the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, to vote... Transparent elections will only happen when there is a transparent voter list... Only those who oppose transparency and transparent elections are opposing this process," Sharma added.

The first phase of the SIR was conducted in Bihar in September ahead of the State Assembly elections.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said that the poll body will conduct the second phase of the SIR in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
According to the Election Commission, printing and training will take place from October 28 to November 3, followed by an Enumeration Phase from November 4 to December 4. The Draft Electoral Rolls will be published on December 9, followed by a claims and objection period from December 9 to January 8, 2026. The Notice Phase (for hearing and verification) will take place between December 9 and January 31, 2026, with publication of Final Electoral Rolls scheduled for February 7, 2026. (ANI)