Phase 2 of SIR ends with over 7.2 crore deletions across 12 states, UP tops

At the start of the SIR exercise, the combined electorate in these states and UT stood at around 51 crore. The deletions account for roughly 10.2 per cent of the voter base.

In Short

• Deletions account for about 10 per cent of total voters
• West Bengal faces legal scrutiny over 6.32 crore entries
• Uttar Pradesh leads fresh voter additions with 92.4 lakh names

In what is being billed as the largest voter list cleanup, more than 5.2 crore names have been deleted from electoral rolls across 12 states and one Union Territory following the second phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR), accounting for about 10 per cent of total voters.

The drive began in Bihar and later expanded to 11 states and one UT. At the start of the exercise on October 27, 2025, the combined electorate in these regions stood at around 51 crore. The deletions translate to roughly 10.2 per cent of the voter base.

NET ROLLS SHRINK DESPITE FRESH ADDITIONS

During the second phase, about 7.2 crore names were removed. Uttar Pradesh led with the highest number of deletions at 2.89 crore, followed by Tamil Nadu with 97 lakh and West Bengal with 90.8 lakh voters removed.

However, nearly 2 crore electors were added through fresh registrations (Form 6) and address updates (Form 8), partially offsetting the deletions.

After the revision, the total electorate across these regions stands at 45.8 crore.

WHY NAMES WERE DELETED

Election Commission data shows deletions targeted voters who were:

• Absent at registered addresses: 13 crore
• Permanently shifted: 3.1 crore
• Dead, duplicate, or other categories: over 1.2 crore

Officials said the exercise aimed to eliminate “ghost voters” and improve roll accuracy.

STATE-WISE IMPACT

The scale of deletions varied widely:

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 16.6 per cent (highest)
• Uttar Pradesh: 13.2 per cent
• Gujarat: 13.1 per cent
• Chhattisgarh: 11.3 per cent
• West Bengal: 10.9 per cent
• Tamil Nadu: 10.6 per cent
• Goa: 10.2 per cent

Lower reductions were seen in:

• Madhya Pradesh: 5.7 per cent
• Rajasthan: 5.4 per cent
• Kerala: 2.5 per cent
• Lakshadweep: 0.3 per cent

Puducherry recorded about a 7 per cent drop.

UP SEES HIGHEST ADDITIONS

Among new entries, Uttar Pradesh topped with 92.4 lakh additions. Other states included:

• Tamil Nadu: 35 lakh
• Kerala: 20.4 lakh
• Rajasthan: 15.4 lakh
• Madhya Pradesh: 12.9 lakh
• Gujarat: Over 12 lakh

BENGAL SIR ROW

In West Bengal, the SIR process was dogged by controversy. Over 60 lakh faced adjudication, of which authorities removed over 27 lakh names after verification, along with another 6 lakh based on objections.

Ahead of assembly polls, the number of voters in the state stands at 6.75 crore, considerably lower than the 7.66 crore on the rolls before the revision began.

Officials said the revision removes the risk of bogus voting by eliminating inactive or unverifiable voters, including over 6.5 crore electors who had not voted despite being on rolls.

The exercise, they said, results in a “cleaner and more accurate” electoral database ahead of upcoming elections.

- Ends