'Its effective implementation, with fairness and due diligence': Majhi backs SIR drive

Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday backed the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling it necessary to uphold electoral integrity and protect voters’ rights.

Majhi’s remarks came as the Congress-led INDIA bloc, Cockroach Janta Party and other Opposition parties demanded the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the cancellation of the SIR exercise.

In a social media post, Majhi said: “SIR is a necessary and constructive exercise to uphold the integrity of our electoral system. Its effective implementation, with fairness and due diligence, will help ensure that electoral records remain reliable and that the democratic process commands the confidence that it deserves.”

“The credibility of a democracy rests on free and fair elections and the protection of every eligible citizen’s right to vote. Clean and accurate rolls are fundamental to this trust.”

The chief minister said duplicate entries, outdated records and the inclusion of deceased persons’ names could compromise electoral rolls’ accuracy. “Ensuring reliable electoral rolls is, therefore, not merely an administrative necessity, but essential to safeguarding electoral integrity and strengthening public confidence in democracy,” he said.

Majhi said SIR helped identify discrepancies, eliminate duplicate entries, update records following deaths or changes in residence, and ensure eligible voters were not left out.

“Equally, the process must protect every legitimate voter from wrongful exclusion. These are not minor administrative details; they go to the heart of electoral fairness, equal representation and the sanctity of every vote,” he added.

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said Majhi’s remarks were not based on facts and accused him of trying to appease the Centre’s leadership.

Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das condemned Majhi’s defence of the exercise, calling it “flattery”.