Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, May 20: A delegation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Wednesday met Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam and demanded complete transparency in the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
The opposition alliance urged that the voter list revision process be conducted in a fair, impartial and transparent manner to ensure that no eligible voter is removed from the rolls. The delegation submitted a detailed 36-point memorandum outlining its concerns and recommendations.
The MVA delegation included Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Ambadas Danve, along with NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) state president Shashikant Shinde and former legislator Sunil Bhusara.
The leaders expressed concern over alleged instances in other states where voter exclusion was reported during similar exercises, stressing that no name should be deleted without prior notice and a minimum seven-day window for response.
They also argued that the revision process should not be rushed, noting that Maharashtra’s voter base has grown significantly over the past 25 years. With no major elections expected in the immediate future, the delegation suggested that the exercise be spread over one-and-a-half to two years for better accuracy and verification.
The opposition alliance further demanded that all electoral data generated during the revision be shared with political parties in accessible digital formats, including machine-readable copies, along with physical records. They also urged that such data be preserved at the level of Electoral Registration Officers and District Election Officers for at least five years.
Additionally, the memorandum called for a minimum one-month period for citizens to file objections and sought a dedicated drive to strengthen Booth Level Agent (BLA) registrations to improve ground-level monitoring.
Later, MVA leaders including Aaditya Thackeray, Sachin Sawant, Shashikant Shinde, Ambadas Danve and Varun Sardesai addressed a press conference, warning that hurried electoral roll revisions—similar to those seen in other states—could create confusion, panic and mistrust among voters.
They reiterated that maintaining the integrity of the electoral process is essential to preserving public confidence in democracy.