BJP accuses Hemant Soren of misleading voters on electoral roll revision

Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu accused Chief Minister Hemant Soren of misleading voters over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise is being politicised to protect “ineligible voters”.

Sahu claimed that the Chief Minister was creating confusion among voters by suggesting that the revision process could deprive tribals, backward communities and other beneficiaries of their voting rights and welfare entitlements. He described such assertions as “misleading and baseless”.

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The BJP leader said the Special Intensive Revision is a routine exercise carried out by the Election Commission of India to ensure that all eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls while removing ineligible entries. He added that the process involves standard procedures such as Form 6 for inclusion of new voters, Form 7 for deletion of names and Form 8 for corrections.

Sahu further claimed that similar revisions have been conducted multiple times in the past as part of electoral reforms, and questioned why objections were being raised now. He emphasised that the exercise is conducted independently by the Election Commission and does not involve political interference.

Alleging irregularities, the BJP leader said the ruling dispensation was concerned about the identification of what he described as “fake voters”. He cited figures to claim that the growth in the number of voters in Jharkhand between 2019 and 2024 was higher than the national average, suggesting that this warranted scrutiny.

Sahu also cited instances from East Singhbhum district to support his allegations, claiming discrepancies in beneficiary data and voter records.

The state government has earlier expressed concerns that the revision process could adversely impact genuine voters, particularly from tribal and marginalised communities.

The exchange marks a fresh escalation in the political tussle between the BJP and the ruling coalition in Jharkhand, with electoral roll revision emerging as a key point of contention ahead of upcoming political developments.