BJP Launches Nationwide Campaign To Clarify SIR, Counters ‘Misinformation’ By Opposition

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at addressing what it describes as misinformation and confusion being circulated by opposition parties regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party maintains that this outreach effort is intended to explain the objectives and procedures of the SIR exercise and reassure voters that it is governed by official rules and transparent processes.

Central coordination team to lead outreach

To oversee the campaign, the BJP has formed a central coordination team led by National General Secretary Tarun Chugh. The group includes senior leaders such as K Laxman, Alka Gurjar, OP Dhankhar, Rituraj Sinha, Anirban Ganguly, K Annamalai and others. Their mandate is to design the outreach strategy using official data, institutional inputs, and feedback collected from state units where the SIR process is ongoing.

Workshops and grassroots programmes

Team members are travelling to several states to conduct workshops and meetings with party workers, equipping them with factual information on how the electoral roll revision is being carried out. Alongside this, the BJP is running structured grassroots engagement programmes to ensure that accurate information on SIR reaches citizens at the booth level.

BJP's allegations against the opposition

According to party leaders, opposition parties are deliberately crafting a misleading narrative about the SIR exercise to confuse voters. Tarun Chugh has said that the BJP is "fully prepared" to counter such interpretations and rumours. He has directed party cadres to stay in continuous touch with voters and present the party's perspective on the revision process.

Booth-level mobilisation efforts

BJP functionaries say that meetings with party workers are being conducted at all organisational levels-from state units down to booth committees-in regions where the revision is underway. The party has committed to responding across platforms using verified information and documented evidence to address doubts and, as they put it, "present the real picture" of the SIR exercise.

Second phase of SIR begins in 12 regions

The Election Commission of India is preparing to carry out the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories. These include:

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Chhattisgarh
• Goa
• Gujarat
• Kerala
• Lakshadweep
• Madhya Pradesh
• Puducherry
• Rajasthan
• Tamil Nadu
• Uttar Pradesh
• West Bengal

Detailed timeline for the revision

As per the notified schedule, printing and training activities will be held from October 28 to November 3. The enumeration phase will run from November 4 to December 4. Draft electoral rolls will be published on December 9, after which claims and objections may be filed from December 9 to January 8, 2026.

The verification stage, consisting of notice and hearing processes, is planned from December 9 to January 31, 2026. The final rolls are expected to be released on February 7, 2026, ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.

Pilot in Bihar and expansion to more states

The first phase of the SIR exercise took place in Bihar in September as part of preparations for the state's Assembly elections. Following that pilot, the Election Commission has expanded the exercise to 12 additional states and Union Territories under the second phase now underway.