SIR Phase II: 5.2 crore names deleted; UP tops net deletions
SIR Phase II: 5.2 crore names deleted; UP tops net deletions
Across 12 states and UTs, SIR Phase II trims 10.2% of voters, with Uttar Pradesh leading deletions and Andaman & Nicobar Islands posting the sharpest percentage purge.
Across 12 states and union territories, the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR Phase II) trimmed the electoral rolls by about 10.2%, deleting roughly 5.18 crore names while the total count of electors stood around 45.81 crore after the exercise. The deletions were part of a nationwide effort to tighten the rolls and curb bogus voting by refreshing the voter list.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest net deletion in absolute numbers, removing 2.04 crore voters, followed by West Bengal with 83.86 lakh deletions. These figures underscore the scale of the revision and its impact on several large states, where the purge helps distill the rolls to reflect current eligibility more accurately.
In percentage terms, Andaman and Nicobar Islands posted the highest purification at 16.6%, with Uttar Pradesh at 13.2% and West Bengal at 10.9%, indicating varying levels of change across regions. The exercise aims to strike a balance between keeping the rolls current and ensuring eligible voters remain on the list, while reducing opportunities for bogus voting.
Overall, the process spanned 12 states and UTs, with about 2 crore new voters joining the electoral rolls while roughly 5.2 crore names were deleted. The remaining electors total roughly 45.8 crore, reflecting a significant but targeted refresh of the voter list. Officials describe the phase as a necessary step toward cleaner, more reliable elections and emphasize the ongoing nature of the revision to maintain accuracy over time.
Public awareness and continued transparency are expected to accompany the revision as more states finalize their Phase II outcomes and prepare for subsequent checks to ensure all eligible voters are properly represented on the rolls.
