Bhubaneswar: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra on Tuesday raised concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Odisha, flagging the proposed deletion of nearly 9.8 lakh voters from the state’s voter list.
In a representation to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Patra warned that large-scale deletions identified during the preliminary verification stage could result in the “wrongful disenfranchisement” of eligible voters if proper safeguards are not ensured.
He cited reports received by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, alleging that several electors have been incorrectly marked for deletion despite being present at their registered addresses. He further pointed out instances where Booth Level Officers allegedly failed to conduct mandatory physical verification before flagging names for removal, raising concerns over procedural lapses.
According to Patra, the scale of proposed deletions—around 9.8 lakh voters—far exceeds normal annual trends, suggesting either systemic errors or ‘flawed identification’ criteria. He also noted that nearly 2 lakh objections have already been filed in a short period, indicating widespread public concern over the exercise.
He added that directions for re-verification and assurances of restoring wrongly deleted names effectively acknowledge errors in the process, while a broader review of deletions signals the need for systemic scrutiny rather than routine correction.
Referring to similar issues reported in other states, Patra said such matters have attracted judicial attention, with courts emphasising transparency, due process, and accessible grievance redressal mechanisms.
Stating that the issue raises serious constitutional concerns under Article 326, Patra urged the Election Commission of India to ensure that no deletion is finalised without verified field inquiry, order a statewide re-verification of flagged cases, and disclose constituency-wise data on proposed deletions.
He also called for an independent audit mechanism in affected districts, strengthened grievance redressal systems, timely restoration of eligible voters, and deployment of an ECI team to Odisha to assess the situation and submit a detailed report.
Patra expressed hope that the Election Commission would act with urgency to safeguard the integrity, inclusiveness, and credibility of the electoral process in the state.
