Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday strongly defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing it as a necessary and constructive exercise to uphold the integrity of India’s electoral system and strengthen public confidence in democracy.
In a post on his X handle, Majhi emphasised that the credibility of a democracy rests on free and fair elections and the protection of every eligible citizen’s right to vote. Clean and accurate electoral rolls, he said, are fundamental to this trust.
“Duplicate entries, outdated records and the names of deceased persons remaining on voter lists can compromise their accuracy. Ensuring reliable electoral rolls is, therefore, not merely an administrative necessity, but essential to safeguarding electoral integrity and strengthening public confidence in democracy,” the Chief Minister stated.
Majhi underlined that the SIR is vital to ensuring electoral rolls accurately reflect eligible voters. The process helps identify discrepancies, eliminate duplicate entries, update records following deaths or changes in residence, and ensure that eligible voters are not left out. At the same time, he stressed, it must protect every legitimate voter from wrongful exclusion. “These are not minor administrative details; they go to the heart of electoral fairness, equal representation and the sanctity of every vote,” he said.
The Chief Minister concluded that the effective implementation of SIR, carried out with fairness and due diligence, will help keep electoral records reliable and ensure the democratic process commands the confidence it deserves.
Majhi’s remarks come amid ongoing political debate over the nationwide Special Intensive Revision exercise being conducted by the Election Commission of India.
In Odisha, the final electoral roll published after the SIR process recorded approximately 3.16 crore electors.
