SIR Essential to Ensure Clean and Credible Electoral Rolls:Siddesh Naik

BJP Goa challenges Congress, AAP and other opposition parties to produce evidence of alleged ‘vote theft’ instead of creating confusion among voters

Goa Khabar: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is essential to ensure accuracy, transparency and credibility in the electoral system, BJP Goa State Media Convenor and Spokesperson Siddesh Shripad Naik said on Saturday.

In a press statement, Naik strongly criticised the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and other opposition parties for questioning the SIR exercise, accusing them of creating unnecessary confusion among voters.

He said the revision process was not directed against any individual or political party but was intended to strengthen democracy by ensuring that every eligible citizen could exercise their constitutional right to vote.

Opposition Questioned Over Its Stand on SIR

Naik questioned why opposition parties, which had repeatedly raised concerns about the accuracy and credibility of electoral rolls, were now opposing efforts to verify and correct those same records.

He said political parties should cooperate with election authorities rather than spread doubts about a process designed to improve the reliability of electoral rolls.

82 Crore Voters Submitted Enumeration Forms, Claims BJP

Citing figures presented in connection with the SIR exercise, Naik claimed that approximately 82 crore voters out of the country’s 95 crore electorate had submitted enumeration forms.

He said officials working across nearly nine lakh polling stations, along with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by various political parties, had participated in the exercise.

Naik maintained that the involvement of election officials and political representatives demonstrated the scale of the verification process.

Verification of Dead and Duplicate Voter Records Necessary

Referring to figures concerning Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate (ASDD) voter records, Naik said approximately 2.89 crore records relating to deceased voters and 1.01 crore duplicate records had been identified.

He argued that these figures highlighted the importance of identifying inaccuracies in electoral rolls and correcting them through established legal procedures.

However, Naik emphasised that no eligible voter should be removed from the electoral rolls without following due process and providing an opportunity to present their case.

Produce Evidence of Vote Theft, BJP Challenges Opposition

Taking aim at allegations of ‘vote theft’, Naik said correcting inaccurate electoral records and illegally depriving eligible citizens of their voting rights were entirely different matters.

He challenged the Congress, AAP and other opposition parties to submit specific evidence of wrongful deletion of voters’ names or procedural irregularities to the competent election authorities.

Making allegations without concrete evidence could undermine public confidence in the electoral system, he said.

Form 6 and Form 7 Procedures Must Be Followed

Naik also highlighted the legal provisions available for voter registration and objections to electoral entries.

He said eligible citizens whose names were missing from electoral rolls could apply for registration through Form 6, subject to prescribed eligibility and verification requirements.

Similarly, Form 7 provides a statutory mechanism for raising objections to electoral entries or seeking deletion on legally valid grounds.

He stressed that election officials must examine such applications in accordance with applicable rules and ensure that no eligible citizen is unfairly deprived of voting rights.

SIR Should Not Become a Political Battleground

Naik urged opposition parties to avoid turning the electoral roll revision exercise into a political controversy.

He said all political parties had a responsibility to assist eligible voters, cooperate with election authorities and support a transparent verification process.

According to Naik, electoral credibility must be protected through evidence, transparency and adherence to legal procedures rather than political rhetoric.

“A clean and accurate electoral roll is not a victory of one political party over another; it is a victory for democracy,” Naik stated.

He reiterated that the BJP Goa remained committed to protecting the voting rights of every eligible citizen while supporting a transparent, inclusive and legally compliant electoral revision process.