Zillar Barta Desk,Lucknow: Political tensions in Uttar Pradesh have intensified over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with state Congress president Ajay Rai launching a sharp attack on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and demanding an impartial investigation into alleged irregularities and the difficulties faced by government employees involved in the exercise.
Ajay Rai questioned the role of the Uttar Pradesh government in the SIR process, arguing that the responsibility for revising electoral rolls rests primarily with the Election Commission of India. He expressed concern over the Chief Minister's reported involvement in reviewing SIR activities in several districts, including Azamgarh, Jaunpur and Varanasi.
According to Rai, the Election Commission is an independent constitutional authority, and the involvement of political leadership in the electoral revision process raises questions about the neutrality and transparency of the exercise.
Taking aim at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Congress leader questioned why the state government was taking such an active role in reviewing a process that falls under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission.
Rai alleged that the SIR exercise was creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among ordinary citizens. He argued that the process should be conducted transparently, without putting unnecessary pressure on voters or election officials.
He also questioned the silence of the Election Commission over the concerns raised by opposition parties and demanded that the entire process be examined to ensure that no eligible voter is deprived of their democratic rights.
The Congress leader reportedly described the situation as a matter of serious concern for democratic institutions and said that electoral procedures must remain free from political interference.
One of the major issues raised by Ajay Rai concerns the reported deaths of booth-level officers (BLOs) engaged in the SIR exercise.
Rai claimed that several BLOs had died amid pressure associated with election-related responsibilities. He alleged that excessive workloads, administrative pressure and unrealistic targets were creating difficulties for officials working at the grassroots level.
He demanded a high-level and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding these deaths.
The Congress leader also questioned whether sufficient support and assistance were being provided to the families of deceased election officials. He called upon the state administration and the Election Commission to take responsibility for addressing the concerns of affected families.
In an earlier incident in Sitapur, Rai visited the family of booth-level officer Umesh Gautam, whose death was allegedly linked to work-related pressure. He demanded financial assistance of ₹1 crore for the family, a government job for one dependent and an impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Congress has repeatedly raised concerns about the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision, arguing that electoral roll revision must not become a source of harassment for ordinary voters.
According to the opposition party, people must be given adequate opportunities to verify their names, submit the necessary documents and raise objections if discrepancies are found in the voter lists.
Ajay Rai has maintained that the process should be transparent and that every eligible citizen must retain the right to participate in elections.
The Congress leadership has also expressed concern that administrative pressure could affect the quality of the revision exercise and create unnecessary difficulties for election officials.
The party has called for clear guidelines, proper monitoring and accountability at every stage of the process.
The SIR controversy has become another major point of confrontation between the BJP and Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
While the Congress has questioned the manner in which the exercise is being conducted, the BJP has defended the electoral revision process, maintaining that cleaning up voter lists is necessary to ensure accurate and reliable electoral records.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also criticised opposition parties for questioning the Election Commission and the SIR exercise, accusing them of attempting to undermine democratic institutions for political reasons.
The BJP maintains that electoral roll revision is an important exercise for removing duplicate and ineligible entries and ensuring that voter lists remain accurate.
However, opposition parties have insisted that the process must be conducted without discrimination and that legitimate voters should not face difficulties.
Ajay Rai's demand for an impartial investigation has added another dimension to the ongoing political debate.
The Congress leader wants the authorities to examine allegations of excessive pressure on BLOs, investigate reported deaths and establish whether administrative shortcomings contributed to the difficulties faced by election personnel.
He has also questioned the role of the state administration and called for greater accountability from those responsible for supervising the process.
The controversy has once again brought the independence of constitutional institutions, the responsibilities of the Election Commission and the protection of voting rights into the political spotlight.
With the BJP and Congress taking sharply contrasting positions, the SIR controversy is expected to remain a significant political issue in Uttar Pradesh.
For the Congress, the central demand is that electoral revision must be fair, transparent and free from political influence. The BJP, meanwhile, continues to defend the exercise as an important step towards maintaining clean and accurate voter lists.
Whether Ajay Rai's demand for an independent investigation will lead to further administrative action remains to be seen. However, his criticism of Yogi Adityanath has intensified the political debate over the SIR process and raised fresh questions about the protection of electoral rights and the working conditions of officials involved in election duties.
