The Election Commission of India (ECI) has started the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in 12 states and Union Territories, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. However, the state of Assam will not be part of this round.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the exclusion was due to Assam’s unique citizenship provisions under Section 6A of the Citizenship Act.

“A separate order will be issued for Assam. The revision will take place under different timelines,” the CEC confirmed.

🧾 What Is SIR in Election?

The SIR (Special Intensive Revision) is a large-scale update of the voter list carried out by the Election Commission of India to ensure every eligible citizen’s name is correctly included.

During this exercise, officials go house-to-house to verify voter details, remove duplicate or deceased entries, and add new voters who have turned 18.

In West Bengal, this process — also called the SIR in West Bengal — will start from November 4, and citizens can update their names, addresses, and other information through enumeration forms or online portals.

⚖️ Why Assam Is Not Included

The ECI clarified that Assam’s citizenship verification process makes the voter roll revision more complex.
Under Section 6A of the Citizenship Act:

• People who came to Assam before January 1, 1966 are treated as Indian citizens.
• Those entering between 1966 and March 25, 1971, must register to gain citizenship.
• Anyone who came after March 25, 1971, is considered an illegal migrant.

Because of these special rules and the pending NRC (National Register of Citizens) process, the ECI will issue a separate SIR election commission order for Assam later.

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🗂️ States Covered Under Phase-II SIR Election Commission Drive

The Election Commission of India said that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will begin on October 28, 2025, in the following states and UTs:

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

Printing of enumeration forms will begin on October 28, followed by field verification from November 4 to December 4, 2025.

• Draft voter list publication: December 9, 2025
• Claims and objections: Till January 8, 2026
• Hearing of claims: By January 31, 2026
• Final voter list release: February 7, 2026

🗣️ Reactions from Political Parties

The announcement triggered political debates across several states:

• The Trinamool Congress (TMC) said it would “democratically resist any deletion of genuine voters” during the SIR in West Bengal.
• CPI(M) urged the ECI to keep the process transparent and only remove names of deceased voters.
• Congress leaders questioned the ECI’s credibility after reports of mass voter deletions in Bihar.
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin accused the Election Commission of trying to “murder the right to vote.”

In response, the Chief Election Commissioner said all states are constitutionally bound under Article 324 to cooperate with the Election Commission of India in updating the voter list.

📊 Phase-II Electoral Roll Revision Timeline

🧭 Next Steps by the Election Commission

The ECI will soon release a separate voter list revision schedule for Assam. The commission assured that the process aims to be transparent, inclusive, and fully digital.

“Our goal is a clean, accurate, and trustworthy voter roll for all citizens,” said Gyanesh Kumar, CEC of the Election Commission of India.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• SIR in Election: Special Intensive Revision to clean and update the voter list.
• Conducted by: Election Commission of India (ECI).
• Phase-II States: 12, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
• Assam Excluded: Separate rules under Section 6A.
• Public Participation: Citizens can check or correct names online or through enumeration forms.