The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh on Monday submitted a Suspension of Business notice ahead of the opening day of the Parliament’s Winter Session, calling for an immediate debate on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 States and Union Territories.
Singh urged the Upper House to discuss not only the SIR exercise but also the connected issues, including alleged arbitrary voter deletions and the reported deaths of several Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the revision process.
In his notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretary-General, the AAP MP claimed that the SIR has “triggered a nationwide crisis of electoral integrity,” leading to “mass arbitrary deletions, severe procedural violations, and widespread distress,” which he said pose a threat to free and fair elections.
According to Singh, the SIR has resulted in “unprecedented and unjustified” removal of voter names—most notably in Bihar, where he alleged that around 65 lakh voters were removed without proper verification. He added that in several constituencies, the number of deletions surpassed previous winning margins, raising concerns of targeted disenfranchisement of migrants, women, minorities, and vulnerable groups. He also flagged the absence of an effective appeals mechanism and criticised the opacity of the deletion process.
Singh further alleged that the SIR is causing a “humanitarian crisis” for BLOs. Citing reports, he claimed that at least 16 BLOs across States had died within just 19 days (till late November 2025), some by suicide, due to extreme workloads, mental stress, unsafe field conditions, and pressure from performance rankings. Frequent app failures, unrealistic targets, and threats of suspension have further worsened their working conditions, he said, calling the Election Commission’s timelines “arbitrary and unrealistic.”
Calling the SIR rollout rushed and flawed, Singh argued it risks large-scale voter disenfranchisement and undermines electoral credibility. He urged the Chair to suspend all other business under Rule 267 to allow an immediate discussion on the issue, demanding that the SIR be halted, electoral rolls restored, and the Election Commission held accountable.
The second phase of the SIR is currently underway in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, following the completion of the first phase in Bihar. The final revised electoral roll is scheduled for publication on February 14, 2026.
Meanwhile, the 6th Session of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 269th Session of the Rajya Sabha began on Monday at 11 am, marking the start of the Winter Session, which will run until December 19.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to introduce the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Health Security and National Security Cess Bill, 2025; and the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, during today’s proceedings.
