Bhubaneswar, Aug 19: The Election Commission of India will launch a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Odisha from the next month after a gap of 24 years, officials said on Tuesday.

The move aims to eliminate duplicate, fake, and deceased voters, improve electoral transparency, and prepare for the upcoming elections.

The announcement by the State Chief Electoral Officer has sparked political reactions across party lines. The revision will involve door-to-door verification by booth-level officers using designated forms to collect and validate voter details. The process will begin with the publication of a draft list, followed by public feedback and objections, and culminate in the release of the final voter roll.

According to the Election Commission, Odisha had 3.32 crore registered voters during the 2024 elections. The SIR campaign is expected to reveal how many of these entries are invalid or duplicated. In Bihar, a similar exercise led to the removal of 65 lakh voters, triggering national political debate.

The Opposition BJD has issued a warning, stating that if the revised voter list appears biased in favour of the ruling party, they will take to the streets. Congress, meanwhile, has demanded that the Election Commission first address the alleged irregularities involving 42 lakh voters from the previous election.

Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan responded sharply, saying, “Those who once benefited from voter fraud are now opposing voter reforms.” BJD MLA Dhruba Sahu and Congress Media Cell Chief Aravind Das also voiced strong opinions, reflecting growing political friction.

Chief Electoral Officer Gyanesh Kumar, in a press briefing, emphasized that the SIR will ensure a clean and accurate voter list. The campaign will identify individuals registered in multiple locations and remove fake entries, thereby strengthening the democratic process.

As Odisha prepares for this massive electoral cleanup, all eyes are on how the SIR will impact the state’s political dynamics and voter confidence ahead of the next election cycle.

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