The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls has triggered a fresh round of political exchanges in Chhattisgarh, with the Congress and the BJP taking contrasting positions over the verification exercise being carried out under the guidelines of the Election Commission of India.
The Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday held a high level meeting of the SIR Monitoring Committee at Rajiv Bhawan, chaired by PCC president Deepak Baij. Senior leaders including Leader of Opposition Dr. Charan Das Mahant, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, former Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, committee convenor Mohan Markam and co-convenor Dhanendra Sahu were present.
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In the meeting, Congress reviewed SIR progress across all Assembly constituencies and decided to strengthen its presence at the booth level. According to committee convenor Mohan Markam, each constituency will now have two “master trainers,” and MLAs will undergo constituency-level training to enhance the party’s preparedness. “This exercise is meant to ensure accuracy, transparency and representation. Booth-level workers must be fully trained to assist voters and address discrepancies,” Markam said.
The party has also directed district, block, mandal and zone committees to actively monitor the revision process and coordinate with the Election Commission where objections arise.
The BJP, responding to Congress’s observations, said that voter list revision is a standard exercise conducted nationwide and urged political parties to work constructively with the Election Commission.
A BJP spokesperson said the party has “completed its internal readiness well ahead of schedule,” adding: “Every eligible voter must be included, and unverifiable entries must be removed. This is fundamental to strengthening democratic processes.”
He said that raising premature concerns without filing formal objections “may create unnecessary doubt among voters,” referring to previous SIR exercises such as in Bihar, where several parties filed objections but Congress submitted none.
The issue of voter list revision has become politically sensitive in recent months, with opposition parties in several states flagging concerns about alleged discrepancies. In Chhattisgarh, Congress maintains that its objective is to ensure accuracy and fairness, while the BJP argues that the process should not be politicised.
Political analysts say the debate reflects “increased scrutiny over electoral procedures” as parties prepare for upcoming electoral cycles.
“Both parties are trying to demonstrate vigilance,” said political observer, Dr. Avdhesh Mishra. “While Congress is focusing on cadre preparedness, the BJP wants to position itself as a defender of institutional processes.”
The Election Commission’s SIR guidelines mandate house to house verification, removal of duplicate or inaccurate entries, and addition of new eligible voters. District-level teams have already completed more than half of the field verification in several regions, officials said.
Meanwhile both Congress and BJP have urged their workers to assist voters in corrections and new registrations, signalling that the voter list revision, usually a bureaucratic exercise, has now turned into a significant political battleground.
