In response to the Election Commission of India’s announcement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Phase-III exercise in Odisha, BJD leader Sasmit Patra has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Patra highlighted issues from the preliminary verification phase, including alleged wrongful voter identification and large-scale proposed deletions.
Patra emphasized the importance of accurate electoral rolls and ensuring eligible voters are not excluded due to errors. He urged for proper field inquiries before voter deletions, advance notice to affected electors, and citizen-friendly grievance redressal mechanisms. Patra also called for public disclosure of progress data, outreach for vulnerable groups, and better coordination with political parties during the SIR exercise.
The BJD leader expressed hope for a fair and transparent SIR process in Odisha, involving over 38,000 Booth Level Officers conducting door-to-door verification. Additionally, political parties have appointed 27,723 Booth Level Agents to assist in the verification process.
