On Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar emphasized the necessity of regular verification of voter lists, urging that they contain only Indian citizens. Addressing Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Telangana, he highlighted India as the world's largest democracy. BLOs are pivotal to India's electoral process, and the transparency of voter lists depends significantly on their integrity and dedication.
The Chief Election Commissioner stated that the global community attentively observes India's elections to understand how such a vast democracy functions. He commended the BLOs of Bihar for guiding the nation through the Special Intense Revision (SIR) process, showing exemplary execution in the third phase. Telangana is set to demonstrate nationally how this undertaking should be conducted. During Bihar's SIR, 2.2 million deceased, 3.6 million permanently shifted, and 0.7 million fraudulent voters were purged, resulting in 75 million voters in the final list.
Also Read: Surprising Voter Name Cuts: 9.7 Million in Tamil Nadu, 7 Million in Gujarat Revealed in SIR Draft Roll
Rajiv Kumar noted there were no complaints regarding the SIR process in Bihar, with no need for re-voting or recounting in its elections. Praising Bihar's BLOs, the Chief Election Commissioner stressed the importance of periodically purifying voter lists. He confirmed that SIR will be undertaken in Telangana too, insisting on lists with only eligible Indian citizens—an essential task crucial for safeguarding democracy.
Rajiv Kumar confirmed Bihar's voter list verification completion and the ongoing campaign across 12 states. He reiterated the necessity for voter lists to include solely Indian citizens, irrespective of religion, ensuring no external names feature. Recently elected as the 2026 Chair of the International IDEA Council, Rajiv Kumar remarked on this achievement reflecting global acknowledgment of India's Election Commission as the world's most credible and innovative election management organization.
