Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has sharply criticized the ongoing nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling it a “betrayal of democracy.” He described the process as a “major conspiracy,” warning that its impact could extend far beyond voter lists, potentially affecting ration cards, land records, caste certificates, reservations, bank accounts, and lockers in the future.
On Thursday evening, Yadav shared a 20-second video on his official X handle, appealing to opposition parties and NDA allies to unite against what he termed the BJP’s “mega conspiracy.” He cautioned, “Today votes are being tampered with, tomorrow names could be erased from land records, and soon other essential civic documents could also be targeted. This poses a serious threat to democracy.”
Yadav alleged that the BJP, its allied parties, state governments, and certain corrupt officials within the Election Commission are colluding to take control of the entire electoral system. He warned that if the process continues unchecked, the situation could become worse than the colonial era.
The Election Commission, however, defended SIR, stating that it is a regular constitutional process aimed at updating voter lists and including new and migrant voters.
Currently, SIR is underway in nine states and three union territories. The SP has demanded an extension of deadlines and called for the process to be completed transparently. The party stressed that if conducted without proper oversight, the exercise could pose a serious threat not only to voter lists but to democracy and citizens’ rights at large.
