Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram on Monday criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying the exercise was creating a new category of “non-voting citizens”. His remarks came after former Indian diplomat Navdeep Suri publicly spoke about difficulties he faced while dealing with the SIR process in Punjab.
Chidambaram referred to Suri's experience in a social media post and questioned how ordinary citizens would be able to navigate the verification process if a former ambassador encountered difficulties in establishing his citizenship-related credentials. Suri, who previously served as India's ambassador to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates and as High Commissioner to Australia, had raised concerns about the process and described having faced “trouble” during the ongoing electoral-roll revision. Chidambaram used the episode to question the implications of the exercise for eligible voters who may find it difficult to provide the required documentation or establish their electoral records.
Chidambaram's criticism
The Congress leader's latest comments are part of his broader criticism of the ECI's handling of SIR. In his latest remarks, he argued that the process could leave eligible citizens without the ability to vote if their names are not retained in the electoral rolls. Another report on his comments said Chidambaram warned that nearly 10 crore eligible Indians, or around 10 per cent of the electorate, could potentially lose their voting rights if concerns surrounding the revision were not addressed.
The controversy centres on the purpose and implementation of the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that electoral-roll revision is intended to ensure that voter lists remain accurate by identifying eligible voters and removing names of deceased, shifted, duplicate or otherwise ineligible persons. The process has nevertheless drawn criticism from opposition parties and other groups over documentation requirements and the possibility of eligible voters being left out.
Ex-Envoy's experience
Suri's reported experience has added a new dimension to the political debate because of his former diplomatic position. Chidambaram questioned whether ordinary citizens, particularly those who may not have access to older records or documents, could face greater difficulties during the verification exercise. His argument is that the experience of a former senior government representative should prompt the poll panel to examine whether the process is sufficiently accessible to all eligible voters.
The ECI's position on electoral-roll revision remains central to the dispute. The Commission has the constitutional responsibility to prepare and revise electoral rolls, while political parties have continued to debate the manner in which the SIR is being conducted. The issue has previously triggered sharp exchanges between the poll body and opposition leaders, including over allegations concerning voter deletions and additions.
For now, Chidambaram's remarks have renewed the political focus on SIR and the question of how eligible citizens can ensure that their names remain on electoral rolls. Any large-scale exclusion of eligible voters would have direct implications for electoral participation, making the verification process and the safeguards available to voters key points of scrutiny as the exercise progresses.
