Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule Hails Election Commission’s Voter Roll Revision as a “Good Step”

“Chandrashekhar Bawankule backs EC’s second phase of electoral roll revision, says it will improve voter list accuracy and ensure transparent elections.”

Nagpur, Maharashtra: Maharashtra Revenue Minister and Guardian Minister of Nagpur and Amravati, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, has welcomed the Election Commission of India’s decision to conduct the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and Union Territories, calling it a “good step” to ensure transparency and accuracy in the voter lists.

Bawankule emphasized that a correct and updated voter list cannot be achieved without such revision drives.
“The list of my area has around 5.4 lakh voters. Many people move to other places, but their names remain in the old area as well. Without proper verification, these errors continue. The Election Commission has taken a good step to rectify this,” Bawankule told reporters in Nagpur.

The Election Commission’s SIR Phase 2 aims to clean up duplicate entries, update addresses, and verify the identity of voters through a detailed ground survey.

However, the move has drawn criticism from some opposition leaders. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the revision exercise “a direct challenge to the democratic process.”

In contrast, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma backed the initiative, saying, “There are names of people who died years ago, but their votes are still being cast. Such fake and infiltrator votes are a threat to democracy. This step will make elections more fair and transparent.”

According to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the second phase of the voter list revision will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The timeline for the exercise is as follows:

• Printing and training: October 28 – November 3
• Enumeration phase: November 4 – December 4
• Draft publication: December 9
• Claims and objections period: December 9 – January 8, 2026
• Hearing and verification: December 9 – January 31, 2026
• Final publication of electoral rolls: February 7, 2026

Political observers say this voter list cleanup is crucial before the 2026 Assembly Elections, as it will help prevent duplication and strengthen the credibility of India’s electoral process.

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Tags:

Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Election Commission, Voter Roll Revision, Maharashtra Minister, Gyanesh Kumar, Special Intensive Revision, Electoral Roll Update, Transparent Elections, EC India News, Nagpur Political News

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