This exposure, just before the scheduled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, on January 15, said that immigration officials at Mumbai International Airport have intercepted around 28 non-resident Indians over the past two months for allegedly carrying Indian voter ID cards despite holding foreign citizenship. Following the seizure, immigration officials seized the voter ID cards and informed the Election Commission of India, which has initiated the process to cancel them. Most of those caught are citizens of countries such as Canada, the United States, Nepal, and Australia.

The BMC elections are scheduled to be held on January 15, with results to be declared on January 16. Immigration officials said they have stepped up checks at Mumbai International Airport over the past two months in view of the polls.

A source from the Immigration Department reportedly told mid-day, “Our teams are deployed at Mumbai International Airport to check passports and documents at immigration counters. We have been specifically alert about checking voter ID cards carried by NRIs, as they are not eligible to vote since they are no longer Indian citizens.”

According to officials, as reported by the Mumbai-based city daily, several NRIs allegedly obtained voter ID cards by submitting false information to the Election Commission of India. “Many of them have family members residing in India and visit the country frequently on visa-free or long-term visas. They provided their relatives’ addresses and declared themselves as residents of India to obtain voter ID cards,” the source said.

Officials explained that NRIs are not entitled to voter ID cards, even though they may legally hold Aadhaar and PAN cards. “These individuals were allegedly voting in their countries of citizenship and attempting to vote in India as well, which is a serious violation,” the source said.

Immigration officials said the voter ID cards were detected during routine immigration checks. “Passengers arriving at the airport are screened at immigration counters. When NRIs were questioned, some produced Indian voter ID cards. After verifying their nationality and records, the cards were confiscated and reported,” the official said.

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The post BMC Polls: ECI claims superintendence on citizenship even as Foreigners (NRIS) enter Mumbai airport carrying Indian Voter IDs appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The official who spoke to the media, The Times of India and NDTV said Asha Santosh Kiranga (24), resident of Aaldandi Tola in Etapalli taluka in Gadchiroli district, was nine months pregnant.

“Her native Aaldandi Tola village is cut off from the main road, with no delivery facilities available there. The patient, hoping for timely help, set out on January 1 with her husband, trudging 6 kilometres through jungle paths to her sister’s home in Petha. However, the ordeal in her heavy, advanced stage of pregnancy took a toll on her body,” he said.

“On the morning of January 2, she began experiencing severe labour pains. She was rushed by ambulance to Kali Ammal Hospital in Hedri. Though the doctors decided on a caesarean operation, it was too late by then. The baby had already died in the womb. Due to rising blood pressure, the woman too passed away soon after,” the official said. When the media contacted authorities for information, Gadchiroli District Health Officer Dr Pratap Shinde said the woman had been registered through the ASHA workers.

“The sudden labour pains and complications likely arose due to walking. Doctors tried to save her, but were unsuccessful. A detailed report has been called for from the taluka health officer, and the matter will be investigated,” he said.

(Except for the story were published from a syndicated feed)

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The post Gadchiroli, Maharashtra: Pregnant Woman walks 6 km from village for childbirth, dies appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Satheesan has registered his strong protest at the arrests in Nagpur on allegations of forced religious conversion. The letter states that twelve individuals, including Father Sudhir, a priest of the CSI South Kerala Diocese, Nagpur Mission, and his wife Mrs. Jasmine, were reportedly arrested by the Maharashtra Police following a complaint filed by Bajrang Dal activists. The arrests were made while a Christmas prayer meeting was being conducted in Nagpur at around 8.00 p.m. last night. Subsequently, those who came to the police station to enquire about the incident were also taken into custody, and cases were registered against them.

Father Sudhir, the open letter states is a native of Amaravila in Thiruvananthapuram district, has been serving in Maharashtra for the past five years. The remaining ten individuals arrested are natives of Maharashtra. The letter also states that it is learned that all the arrested persons are currently being detained at the Benoda Police Station and are likely to be produced before the court shortly. Although representatives of the CSI attempted to secure bail at the police station, they were directed to approach the court.

Satheesan states that “this incident is deeply disturbing and raises serious concerns about the violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India, particularly the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate religion. Arresting individuals for conducting a peaceful prayer meeting is unconstitutional and contrary to the spirit of our democratic and secular values.”

“On behalf of the people of Kerala, I express my strong protest against this unjust action. I earnestly request your immediate intervention to ensure the release of all those arrested and to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.”

Arresting 12 people, including Malayalipriest Fr. Sudhir, during Christmas prayer meeting in #Nagpur based on a BajrangDal complaint is deeply disturbing. I have written to the @PMOIndia & @CMOMaharashtra, protesting this injustice& urging immediate intervention for their release pic.twitter.com/7MPRRgnXTN

— V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) December 31, 2025

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The post Congress leader of the opposition Kerala Assembly writes to Modi, Fadnavis over arrest of a Malayali priest in Nagpur appeared first on SabrangIndia.

About the poet

Most poets write what they see, think, and sometimes also what they feel.

On the very first page of Ipsa Shatakshi’s poetry collection are these words:

“Dedicated to companions who walk the path of struggle and become each other’s courage.”

Ipsa writes what she herself is living through, what she is grappling with—there is no distance here between the poet and her persona. Her struggle is the struggle of her life.

When she says,

“ऐसी रोशनी का हम क्या करें

जो रोशन करे सिर्फ़ एक घर को।

हमें तो चाहिए वे दीये,

जो रोशन करें मानवता को।”

“What use is that one light

That illuminates only one house?

We need lamps

That light up (all of) humanity.”

In Ipsa’s poetry, the language is simple, but runs deep. The concerns of the poet are not limited—she writes for all. The style is not framed in sharp or aggressive tones, yet there is an inner intensity that strikes deeply.

She does not merely pray for the well-being of love and then fall silent; she actively strives for its safe keeping. She does not wish to lose herself in the dreams of her beloved; rather, she wants to live those dreams. When she resists, she does so standing upright—fearless, yet with graceful and dignified words.

The truth is that Ipsa’s poetry is not purely personal, nor does it arise only from her own pain. Instead, it speaks for all those oppressed and crushed sections of society whose very act of standing up counts as standing on the side of humanity. This is Ipsa’s love; this is her freedom—one that reveals the beauty of love through the path of poetry.

She sees and understands too:

कि कैसे उनके हिस्से का

चाँद, सूरज, तारे, फूल, ख़ुशबू—

सब कुछ मुट्ठियों में मसला जा रहा है।

और उन्हें भी अब

बंद करनी है अपनी मुट्ठियाँ,

हवा में तान कर

लेना है प्रण

कि अपने संघर्ष से छीन लेना है

अपनी धरती, अपना सूरज,

फूलों का खिलना,

पंछियों की चहचहाहट…

और आज़ाद कर लेना है—

“इश्क़ की सुंदरता”

How what was meant for her—

The moon, the sun, the stars, the flowers, the fragrance—

Are being crushed in closed fists,

And (how) now she too

Must clench her fists

And raise them up in the air,

And take a vow

To reclaim through struggle

Her earth, her sun,

The blooming of flowers,

The chirping of birds…

And free her love.

“The Beauty of Love”

Another reason to embrace this collection is that it is often assumed that women’s poetry lacks struggle, consciousness, or social rebellion—that their world revolves only around themselves.

Ipsa does write of the lived truth, but her truth walks the path of radical change, of revolution.

In October 2025, Sabrangindia published a letter written by Ipsa to her jailed husband, Rupesh Kumar Singh. This may be read here.

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The post Poetry award for Ipsa Shatakshi at the world book fair, January 2026 appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Today, New Year’s Eve, December 31, a delegation of Parliamentarians belonging to the TMC met with Gyanesh Kumar (Chief Election Commissioner-CEC) and submitted a detailed memorandum.

pic.twitter.com/vzmVFG0uo8

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) December 31, 2025

Yesterday, December 30, 5-member delegation of state political representatives and MLAs met the State Election Commission demanding “immediate release of the “Logical Discrepancy” list, an extension of doorstep hearing timelines for senior citizens, and the inclusion of BLA-2 representatives in SIR hearings, and submitted a memorandum. The memorandum states that “these demands are vital to ensure transparency in voter lists. Ending needless harassment and protecting senior citizens’ rights will strengthen the very foundation of democracy”

Calling for the immediate release of the “Logical Discrepancy” list, an extension of doorstep hearing timelines for senior citizens, and the inclusion of BLA-2 representatives in SIR hearings, a five-member delegation of the All India Trinamool Congress submitted a memorandum to… pic.twitter.com/0FnaEN5BA8

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) December 30, 2025

Controversy was first generated with the December 27 announcement by the ECI that it was “halting” the previously announced and notified Bengal hearings over 2002 electoral roll glitch! Rediff.com reported that the EC has issued instructions afresh to district election officials in West Bengal, directing that voters marked as “unmapped” in the BLO app due to technical issues linked to the digitisation of the 2002 electoral rolls during the ongoing SIR exercise should not be called for hearings, even if such notices have been auto-generated by the system. This promises to create hardship and confusion on the ground especially to the elderly and differently abled leading to sharp criticisms from the state government and ruling party.

The directive published on the portal and issued by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, on Saturday, December 27, stated that the issue has arisen due to incomplete conversion of the PDF version of the 2002 electoral rolls, the last Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted in the state, into CSV format, leading to linkage failures in the booth-level officer (BLO) app for a number of electors.  The announcement stated that despite being marked as “unmapped” in the system, many such electors have valid self or progeny linkage with the hard copy of the 2002 electoral rolls, duly authenticated by district election officers (DEOs) and published on the CEO’s website. Going further, the CEO’s office said that hearing notices generated automatically in such cases need not be served and should be retained at the level of the electoral registration officer (ERO) or assistant electoral registration officer (AERO).

Sabar Institute: Analysis shows many permanently shifted, untraceable voters in Matua-dominated seats

The refugee (immigrant) community of Hindu refugees largely residing in North 24 Parganas and Nadia district have been apprehensive of exclusion in the SIR since they lack the appropriate “legacy data”. The analysis was conducted in about 15 Matua-dominated Assembly constituencies by the Kolkata-based Sabar Institute. It revealed from analysis that, an average 33.95% deleted voters have been described as permanently shifted. The average number of untraceable/ absent voters across these 15 constituencies stands at 21.56%. These 15 constituencies are located in North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts. The highest per cent of deletions on account of untraceable/absent voters is from the Krishnaganj Assembly seat in Nadia with 42.11% deletions. This was followed by Ranaghat Uttar Purba with 34.56% deletions on account of untraceable/ absent voters in the same district. This study has been reported in detail in The Hindu on December 29.

The highest per cent of deletions on account of permanently shifted voters was recorded in Bangaon Dakshin constituency with 41.76% deletions. This was followed by 38.46% deletions in Swarupnagar on account of permanently shifted voters. Both these constituencies are located in North 24 Parganas. ((Providing details to local and national media, institute stated that the collaborative evidence-based analysis of the SIR exercise in West Bengal was done by Ashin Chakraborty and Souptik Halder. “In constituencies such as Krishnaganj, ‘untraceable/absent’ has become the main reason for voter deletion, which is uncommon in most parts of the State. This is a serious issue and needs urgent attention, especially because the Matua community is already socially and economically marginalised,” Mr. Chakraborty said.

The researchers have also held a surname analysis in the Matua belt across these 15 constituencies which point out that people with the surname “Biswas “have accounted for the highest 20.79% deletions. This is followed by persons with Mondal surname with 17.83% deletions and Das surname with 10.78% deletions. All the three surnames are generally used by the Matua population.

Matuas are a social group largely comprising Namashudras who have migrated from Bangladesh over the past several decades. The community of Hindu refugees largely residing in North 24 Parganas and Nadia district have been apprehensive of the SIR since they lack legacy data. The SIR fears have over the past few weeks have prompted the Matuas to apply for citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019.

Local Officials flag systemic errors and consequent large-scale voter deletions

Meanwhile, a West Bengal based Officers association, reported the Hindu, has expressed concern that names may be deleted from voters’ list without the knowledge of the Electoral Registration Officer. In a letter to West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, with a copy to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s office, the West Bengal Civil Service (Executive) Officers’ Association on Wednesday flagged the “suo moto system-driven deletion of electors from the draft electoral rolls in West Bengal in the ongoing SIR process bypassing the statutory role of EROs”. This anomaly could put the EROs (Electoral Registration Officers) in West Bengal in a piquant situation– an association of state service officers has flagged a serious concern over the potential of widespread, system-driven exclusions/deletions of voters that they (EROs) would be blamed for though they had no part in the generating of notices.

West Bengal based Booth Level Officers have also protested outside the state office of the Election Commission (December 1).

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) engaged in SIR exercise hold a protest outside the office of the Election Commission. pic.twitter.com/47xOqI35FU

— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2025

Under the law and existing rules, the EROs are the sole and competent authority to issue notices if they have any doubts on a voter’s eligibility, be it citizenship or anything else, under the Representation of People Act, 1950. However, in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the ECI’s centralised portal has been used to generate notices. Meanwhile The Indian Express had also reported on December 16 that EROs across Bihar had found “pre-filled notices” appearing on their individual log-ins on the ECI’s centralised portal. Significantly, while the notices bore the names of the EROs, they had not been generated by them.

An Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in West Bengal, who did not wish to be named, said notices are generated by the ECI software, and not by the officer concerned. “We have an option/button for notice generation. When we use it, notice is automatically generated. At present, the software generates notices for voters who are not mapped with the 2002 SIR data. Thereafter notices to these voters are sent. However, in the case of voters with ‘logical discrepancies’ in data, we have no power to decide which elector will be called for a hearing. That will be decided only by the ECI,” the ERO in Nadia district said.

In this letter to the CEC, Saikat Asraf Ali, General Secretary of the state civil service officers association said, “It is observed that names of electors might be deleted from the electoral roll without the knowledge of the ERO who is the competent authority as per the statute. The common people who will be affected by such action will only blame the ERO without knowing that the ERO has been kept out of the entire deletion process by the Commission.”

When contacted, Ali told this newspaper that the association wants ECI to follow the law and be transparent. “If they make deletions, and what they have done so far, they should clarify to people that the ERO is not responsible for the deletions. Otherwise, people will blame us. We also don’t want any genuine elector’s name to be deleted,” he said.

An official in the West Bengal CEO office, however, said detailed instructions were given to all DEOs (District Election Officers), EROs and AEROs in October itself before SIR work commenced in West Bengal. “Why are the officers raising such questions now? Only those electors who have no mapping with 2002 SIR are being served notices to come for hearing. That number is around 31 lakhs in West Bengal. After this, ECI will start scrutinising the voters with ‘logical discrepancies.’ Then it will be decided by the ECI how those notices will be generated,” the official told The Indian Express.

“It has been found on the date of the draft publication that a considerable number of electors, whose Enumeration Forms have not been returned on alleged grounds such as death, migration, absence, or duplication, have been deleted from the draft electoral rolls,” the association had said in its communication. “Seen against the existing legal provisions as enumerated in the Representation of the People Act, 1950 read with the Electoral Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, it is observed that the law clearly mandates that an elector’s name can be deleted with care on special grounds such as, when ‘the person concerned has ceased to be ordinarily resident in the constituency or that he is otherwise not entitled to be registered in the electoral roll of that constituency’ and also, in all such cases, ‘the electoral registration officer shall give the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of the action proposed to be taken in relation to him’ (Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950). EROs have been assigned an integral role in the entire registration process in this regard,” it said.

ERO: Sole authority for voter deletion

AT the heart of the issues raised by the West Bengal officers’ association is the claim that names of persons may be deleted from voters’ list without the knowledge of the Electoral Registration Officer, who is the competent authority as per law to send notices and decide if a person is a legitimate voter.

West Bengal CEO Agarwal had earlier said in a press conference that the hearings for those who could not be mapped with the electoral roll of the last intensive revision in 2002 would begin first and those with “logical discrepancies” would be studied.

“Some electors fall in multiple categories of discrepancies. So, the unique number of logical discrepancies is 1.36 crore and no mapping numbers stand at 31 lakhs, totalling at 1.67 crore. But after analysis, the numbers could change,” he had said.

The WBCS officer’s letter came on the same day that the Election Commission wrote to the CEOs of the 12 states and UTs where the SIR is ongoing, giving fresh instructions to verify all documents submitted by electors with the respective District Election Officers to establish their eligibility within five days – something which was not done in the SIR in Bihar. The Indian Express sent a detailed query to the ECI, which did not respond till the time of writing.

The WBCS officers’ letter concluded, “In view of the above, we request your good office to issue necessary instructions so that the EROs may function with greater clarity in their works and authority commensurate with their statutory responsibilities, considering the fact that the final electoral rolls will be published under his signature and seal alone and under the aegis of Election Commission of India.”

(Report based on inputs from The Hindu, The Indian Express and Rediff.com)

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The post West Bengal: SIR unravelled appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A teacher in a small village may not be exactly in a world-changing position, but who knows that the ideas given by her to her students may one day inspire one of them to contribute something great to peace or justice or protection of environment. So, no matter how small the contributions we can make to create a world based on peace, justice and protection of environment, we must continue to make our best efforts even in the middle of disappointments and obstructions.

There is a famous Hindi song sung by Manna Dey on the theme of the lamp and the storm—nirbal se larai balwan ki, ye kahani hai diye ki or toofan ki (translated as ‘the struggle of the weak against the strong, this is the story of the earthen lamp and the storm). In this song a lonely lamp struggles to keep lighting a dark night as a raging storm attacks to extinguish it, ultimately prevailing.

There are at least two specific ways in which, despite all the disturbing realities and difficulties, hope can still increase for a safer and more just world.

Firstly, in our daily life in immediate surroundings, if more and more people can start making efforts for increasing justice and peace and advancing the cause of protection of the environment, then millions of such small efforts can make a big difference. These can be very small efforts for ensuring that the poorest get justice in everyday life, that domestic violence in neighbouring areas is reduced, that bullying in the local school must stop, that any harassment of girls and women on the streets is opposed, that the proposed felling of trees near our locality can be stopped and instead more trees can be planted if possible.

In a hundred small ways the cause of peace, justice, protection of environment and all forms of life can be advanced in daily life, not the least by making lifestyle changes. However, an even bigger achievement is possible if these efforts are accompanied by educational, campaign and mobilisation efforts to advance the objectives of peace, justice and protection of environment in a wider context. If advancing these precepts in our own life and in the life just around us brings us happiness and satisfaction and helps to improve things, why should not these precepts to taken to wider levels? Why cannot governance of countries, regions and the world be based on these precepts?

Once more and more people start thinking along these lines, the task of most essential changes and reforms in the world is being advanced. Essential to this process is the very creative and involving work of re-imagining the world to be created on the precepts of justice, environment protection and peace. This must be the most exciting challenge, the most involving task ever taken up.

Such highly creative and useful work creates great hope, but this by itself would not be adequate, keeping in view the fact that the world-level threats to peace and environment protection have already acquired the dimensions of disrupting life-nurturing conditions. Therefore, while the efforts of people and their social and ecological movements are very important, it is also very important that persons who have held very senior positions and/or are recognised and respected for their expertise and learning in areas of crucial importance to world should come forward in a bigger or more effective way, on their own or by forming small or big groups, to clearly warn against the ‘business-as-usual’ ways and present various alternative paths for creating a world based on justice, peace and  environment protection and for saving the basic life- nurturing conditions of earth.

These two initiatives, at the grassroots involving most people and at the top level some of the most accomplished persons, should be supportive of each other in various ways and their combined strength and actions can succeed in giving much-needed hope to our deeply troubled and threatened world.

Everyday millions of people –placed in very difficult conditions –take courageous actions to protect themselves and their near and dear ones, sending a clear message that humanity is capable of a much better and protective role, and the potential for channelizing this energy and capability for creating a better and safer world for the people living today and for the generations to come needs to be taken up in much better ways to create hope.

As I am writing this, it is around 5 am in a city of Punjab (India) known for its high levels of pollution, I look out of a high-rise window to see that all nearby areas including a highway are engulfed in fog overlaid with pollution particles. Even the bright lights on the highway are not visible at all. The situation today appears to be much worse than a normal foggy morning. Yet soon enough sun will arise and will seek to bring light and cheer to people. Soon after, we will gather to welcome the New Year, 2026. And so, life will go on. However, it is best to realise that in coming years life will not be the same as before as the basic life-nurturing conditions are being threatened. If more and more of us can be united in checking these threats within a framework of peace, justice, equality, inter-faith harmony and democracy, then we can create a lot of hope. Let’s light a lamp with this hope.

(The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include A Day in 2071, Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, Earth without Borders, Man over Machine and When the Two Streams Met.)

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The post Light a lamp of hope in 2026 appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Girija was the daughter of a late trade Union leader of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, with decades of experience. She lived in Vile Parle, Mumbai, but due to her terminal illness, high diabetes, weak functioning heart, she moved to her sister, Manisha Gupte’s house in Pune, where she breathed her last. Gupte began her organisational work with the Indian Federation of Trade Unions, in the late 1980’s However by the mid 1990’s she made a departure from those organisations, and joined the ranks of the Workers Consciousness Front. A democratic workers front, the Jagrut Kamgar Manch, formed in 1997, also engaged her participation with its focus on consientising the working peoples and building of solidarities. Through this front she made efforts along with others to organise garment workers, hospital workers, transport workers, workers in the Tata Power Project by also organising solidarity programmes. Girija is also remembered for the role played as an activist of the Airport Employees Union from the 1990’s onwards to wage a struggle against the onset of de-formalisation of work and the “contract labour raj.” Her efforts in the early 200s, after the suicide (s) of Tata Power Projector workers in 2003 have been recalled and remembered. Being an academic by profession, she conducted workshops amongst students and youth as well. She was also a committed woman right’s activist.

A voice not confined to trade union protests alone. Girija Gupte engaged in nationwide campaigns opposing the 1998 Ramabainagar Dalit massacre and the Pokhran missile testing in 1998, the communal violence in Bombay (1992-1993), the post Godhra carnage of 2002, Operation Green hunt thereafter, 2006 Khairlanj Dalit killings, the Kalahandi Adivasi massacre in 2009 and the campaign against the imprisonment of Dr Vinayak Sen in 2010.

(This has been written on the basis of several tributes from associates and friends on social media)

The post Girija Gupte, trade unionist passes away appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Welcome to a special edition of Cross Bat, the interview program where bouncers are bowled at the truth. We are at the end of 2025. We are looking back at a year of tectonic shifts for the ordinary Indian citizen and looking ahead to the democratic innovations of 2026.

Our host is Balancedeep Sabchangasi. He is a veteran journalist who loves a good cricket metaphor. He often speaks in the nostalgic tones of a Bollywood ballad. He seeks a spectrum of views but sometimes misses the termites for the teak.

His guest today is Cyrus Behramji Puranafurniturewala. Cyrus is a master restorer of antiques from the old money lanes of Colaba. He lives in The Happyman’s Cooperative Housing Society. He sees the world through the grain of polished rosewood and the smell of turpentine. He defends the status quo with a sharp, earthy Parsi wit. Yet, his defence often reveals the dark, moth-eaten underbelly of our modern civilization.

TRANSCRIPT: CROSS BAT with Balancedeep Sabchangasi

Balancedeep: Hello and welcome to Cross Bat! I’m Balancedeep Sabchangasi. Today, we are analysing the state of the nation in 2025. It feels like the final over of a T20 match. The floodlights are bright. The crowd is roaring. But the pitch is cracking. Is this a new Viksit Bharat melody? Or is it just a loud remix of a dark past?

Joining me is the man who knows how to hide a termite hole with a lick of varnish. Welcome, Cyrus Behramji Puranafurniturewala. Cyrus, let’s go straight to the crease.

I. The Scorecard: Economy and “Job Loss” Growth

Balancedeep: Cyrus, Professor Arun Kumar, an experienced economist, says our GDP figures are a “staggering lie.” He told The Wire that India’s actual GDP is probably 48% of the official figure because we use the organized sector as a proxy for the dying unorganized sector. Are we playing a night match with the floodlights turned off?

Cyrus: (Adjusting his waistcoat) My dear Balancedeep, or BS, data is like old plywood. It must be pliable to fit any frame. If the government says we are a $ 4 trillion economy, then we must be! Why worry about unorganised sectors collapsing? In my workshop, if a chair leg is missing, I just lean it against a sturdy wall. It looks perfect in the showroom.

BS: But economist Rathin Roy warns we are in a “middle-income trap.” He noted on The Wire that the resulting inequality could “challenge the unity and integrity of India.” Aunindyo Chakravarty, another noted economist, says the middle class is “running on fumes and credit cards.” Economist Jayati Ghosh even says counting subsistence work as employment is “throwing dust in our eyes” while real wages stay stagnant. Is Viksit Bharat only for the billionaire class?

Cyrus: Progress is for those who can afford the premium finish! If the middle class is running on credit, it shows they have high confidence. We must prioritise the big houses. You cannot build a grand mansion starting with the servant’s quarters. Harish Khare calls it a “deadly embrace” of cronyism, but I call it Strategic Support for our master craftsmen.

II. The Umpiring: Democracy and “Vote Chori”

BS: Let’s talk about the “SIR” electoral revision. Former Psephologist, Yogendra Yadav says it is a “tectonic shift” where the burden has moved from the state to the voter. In Bihar, 80 lakh voters went missing. Is this “dacoity from the front door”?

Cyrus: (Laughs) Dacoity? It is Democratic Auditing! In my housing society, if a tenant doesn’t pay the lift fund, he “disappears” from the guest list. It is very efficient. If the list “conceals more than it reveals,” it keeps the mystery alive. Which Indian doesn’t love a surprise on Election Day?

BS: But Pratap Bhanu Mehta warns that the “Civilizational State” is the “single greatest assault” on religion. He said in The Hindu that it shrinks universal spiritual codes into a rigid ethnic framework. Ravish Kumar noted that the Parliament has become a “notary office for the executive.” Is dissent now a “threat to civilization”?

Cyrus: Civilization must be solid, like a teak wardrobe. If there are splinters of dissent, you sand them down. You want a smooth surface. Pluralism is for museums. In a Viksit Bharat, one prefers the symmetry of a single door cabinet. It is much easier to lock. Ravish always sounds so sombre. He should try some dhansak for breakfast!

III. The Fourth Estate: Media or “Godi” Upholstery?

BS: Speaking of Ravish Kumar, he has made a piercing observation on the state of our discourse. He says, “In this country, the price of gold and silver has reached the skies, but the price of the media has fallen so low that it is now available for free to do your bidding.” Has the media become a Godi lapdog, Cyrus?

Cyrus: (Chuckles, buffing a brass handle) My dear fellow, why look for expensive investigative journalism when you can have a friendly media for the price of a cheap finish? If the gold is at the top, the silver is in the pockets of the owners, and the journalists are just the polishers, everyone is happy! In The Happyman’s Society, we don’t want a watchdog that barks at the Secretary; we want a lapdog that looks good on the sofa. If the media is cheap, it just means the government is getting a bargain on its PR!

IV. The Field: National Security and “Vishwavictim”

BS: Suhasini Haidar of The Hindu says we have moved from “Vishwaguru” to “Vishwavictim,” blaming global conspiracies for everything. She notes that “personal bonhomie” cannot replace “institutional stability” with Trump’s tariffs. Are we isolated?

Cyrus: Isolated? We are Multi aligned! That is Parsi speak for “having tea with everyone while hiding the silver.” If China dictates a “new normal” at the LAC, as Happymon Jacob says, we must simply redefine what “normal” means! If the border moves, our maps must simply become more “flexible.”

V. The Ground Conditions: Environmental “Renovation”

BS: The air is unbreathable. It is a man-made public health emergency. Environmentalist Neelam Ahluwalia says the new 100 meter Aravalli definition is “catastrophic.” Are we razing our “green lungs” for real estate?

Cyrus: Flat land is much easier to develop, man! If the mountain is gone, we simply sell luxury villas with “Desert Views.” It is Landscape Optimisation.

BS: Professor Pankaj Sekhsaria calls the Great Nicobar project a “betrayal” of a pristine landscape. We are clearing 130 sq. km of rainforest in a quake zone. Acharya Prashant says these disasters are a “mirror to our misplaced idea of progress.” In Goa and Mumbai, trees are being “savagely destroyed” for smart cities.

Cyrus: Oxygen is so 20th century! In a Smart City, we have air conditioning, air purifiers and 5G towers. Why rely on a tree that drops leaves on your Mercedes when you can have a concrete pillar? We are replacing “Nature” with “Net Worth.”

VI. The Fair Play: Identity and Infinite Detention

BS: Cyrus, this is painful. A student from Tripura, Angel Chakma, was recently murdered in Dehradun. He died pleading: “I am Indian, not Chinese.” His father is a BSF jawan. Ravish Kumar asks, “What does it feel like to be a minority in 2025 India?”

Cyrus: (Quietly) There are admittedly cracks in the foundation, BS. If you treat fine teak as firewood because you don’t recognize the grain, you destroy something irreplaceable. We guard the borders but build “partitioned neighbourhoods” in our heads. It is a dry rot in our soul.

BS: And what of those held for years without trial? One a scholar who preaches love, peace and brotherhood and another who innovates and bats for the Himalayas, to name only two? Aakar Patel says “prolonged persecution exemplifies the derailment of justice.”

Cyrus: We call it Progressive Preservation. Why have a messy trial when you can season the wood in a cell? It brings Institutional Stability. No trials, no errors!

BS: Finally, why are rapists treated with leniency? Observers say this “moral collapse” signals that women’s dignity is secondary to political expediency.

Cyrus: It is Strategic Forgiveness. If a part of the furniture is infested but influential, you don’t burn it. You apply a fresh coat of Remission Varnish. It keeps the social cohesion intact.

Interviewer’s Summary and Conclusion

BS: Cyrus, give us a peek at 2026. Specifically, how will the millions of unemployed survive and how will the social fabric evolve?

Cyrus: (Beaming) 2026 is the year of the Self-Restoring Citizen! Since we don’t have enough formal jobs, everyone will become an Adventurer. We shall see a glorious rise in YouTube Influencing, where people film themselves hungry and call it Intermittent Fasting Content.

We will have Friendly Podcasting, where five unemployed PhDs sit in a circle and discuss why they don’t have jobs until they get millions of views from other unemployed PhDs. It’s a circular economy! And the Pakoda Type Businesses will reach new heights. We won’t just sell snacks; we will have Artisanal, Deep Fried Identity Circles.

But the real growth sector for 2026 will be the mushrooming of specialized Brotherhood of Men outfits. You know the type, half pantalooned volunteers who gather in playgrounds to discuss culture, while doing calisthenics. We shall see thousands of these cultural trusts formed! It is a brilliant strategy for keeping the wealth within the family, so to speak!

By 2026, we shall bypass the politician middleman and vote for Boardrooms. Citizenship will be a subscription service. The country will be run like a high-end furniture showroom, strictly for those who can afford the entry fee.

BS: (Turning to the camera with a wistful gaze) India 2025 is a masterclass in polishing the surface while the termites feast below. As Cyrus hints, 2047 is not a destination; it is a teak finished horizon that stays safely out of reach. We are moving toward a 2026 where Justice is a gift and Brotherhood is a tax-exempt hobby.

It reminds me of the lyrical conscience of the poets, Sahir and Shailendra, who saw through the shining facades of their own time. Today, the common man is still that vagrant (Awaara) who has “learned everything but failed to learn worldly cunning” (Sab kuch seekha humne na seekhi hoshiyaari). We live in a society where “mortal men have no value, though even the soil has a price” (Mitti ka bhi hai kuchh mol magar, insaanon ki qimat kuchh bhi nahin).

Our leaders ask us to celebrate a Viksit vision, but as Sahir warned, “an emperor has used his wealth to mock the love of the poor” (Ik Shahenshah nay daulat ka sahara lekar, hum garibon ki muhabbat ka udhaya hai mazaak). We are told “that morning will surely come” (Woh subah kabhi to aayegi), yet we find ourselves wandering in an “endless night” where “lamps fail to light the darkness”.

In the game of life, if you can’t hit a six, just bribe the scoreboard operator. We are merely “travellers to whom no one belongs” (Wahan kaun hai tera musafir), watching a world “written upon the surface of water” (Paani pe likhi likhayi). The polish is bright, but as the poets knew, the rot remains. Goodbye and Shubhratri.

Related:

Out with MNREGA: Hitting the Poor for a Six

The Cross Bat Conversation: Air, antiques and force majeure

The Nation needs an Ethanol Republic – A Satire

A Satirical Imperative Request (SIR) to the CEC of India

Cyrus Seeks a Right to Multiple Voter Ids

A Satirical Plea, Dripping with Envy, to President Xi Jinping of China

The post Searchlight on 2025: The polished window and the dry rot appeared first on SabrangIndia.

This debate was, at its core, a philosophical exercise, not a theological trial. Even if we accept Mufti Nadvi’s logical arguments for a Creator, they do not automatically validate the specific beliefs of his religion. To confuse a philosophical “First Cause” with a religious “Personal God” is a leap of faith, not logic. Here is a breakdown of why this debate cannot be claimed as a victory for organized religion, based on a scientific and critical review of the proceedings.

1. The “First Cause” is Not a Religious Victory

The central pillar of the Mufti Nadvi’s argument was the “Argument from Contingency” (or the Cosmological Argument)—that the universe is contingent and thus requires a “Necessary Being” or a First Cause to exist. While this is a powerful philosophical concept, utilizing it to prove a specific religion is a bait-and-switch tactic.

• The Trap of the “First Cause”:Proving that a “Necessary Being” exists only leads us to Deism—the belief in a creator who set the universe in motion. It does not lead us to Theism—the belief in a God who sends books, prophets, and laws.
• Javed Akhtar’s Real Contention:As noted in the debate, Akhtar’s primary objection is not necessarily against a distant, abstract “First Cause” (which he dismisses as irrelevant). His intellectual battle is with the character of God as portrayed by religions—a God who demands worship, intervenes in human affairs, and allows massive suffering.
• The Metaphysical Reality:Both debaters agreed that God is not a physical entity. If the “Necessary Being” is a metaphysical reality not subject to physical proof, then it is equally not subject to religious anthropomorphism.

2. The Flaw of Imposed Rules

A significant procedural flaw in the debate was the framing of the rules.

• Unilateral Rule Setting:At the outset, the mufti set the parameters: no scriptural evidence, only logic. In a fair debate, one participant cannot unilaterally impose the epistemology. By restricting the debate to “logic only,” the Mufti Nadvi attempted to shield religion from the scrutiny of history and

morality, arenas where religious dogmas often falter.

• Breaking His Own Precedent:The most critical breakdown occurred when Javed Akhtar raised the logical problem of evil and suffering (e.g., children dying in Gaza).

The mufti, unable to answer this strictly through the “logic” he demanded, retreated into religious apologetics. He invoked concepts of “divine wisdom,” “tests,” and “afterlife justice”—all of which are religious beliefs, not logical proofs. This violated his own rule that religious arguments were inadmissible.

3. The Problem of Evil: Logic vs. Apologetics

The clash over the existence of evil was the debate’s turning point, and it highlights why the “religion won” narrative is flawed.

• Logic, Not Just Poetry:Critics often dismiss Javed Akhtar’s arguments as emotional poetry. However, the Problem of Evil is a rigid logical argument. If God is All-Powerful and All-Good, evil cannot exist. Since evil exists, God is either not All-Powerful or not All-Good. This carries as much logical weight as Mufti Nadvi’s “First Cause” argument.
• The Logical Fallacy of “The Test”:The mufti attempted to argue that God and Evil coexist simultaneously, and while God created Evil, He is not responsible for it (attributing it to free will or tests). This is a logical fallacy. If a “Necessary Being” is the source of all reality, it cannot absolve itself of the reality it created.
• The Atheist’s Conclusion:For Javed Akhtar, the existence of suffering is not just a complaint; it is positive evidence that a benevolent, intervening God does not exist.

4. The False Binary of Theist vs. Atheist

The debate also suffered from the rigid binary through which both sides view the world.

• Religious Blindness:Religious apologists tend to view every non-religious individual as a hard core atheist. They fail to recognize deists, agnostics, or spiritual seekers who reject organised religion but accept a higher power.
• Atheistic Blindness:Conversely, atheists often group all believers into the category of “religious fundamentalists,” ignoring those who view God philosophically rather than dogmatically.

The real issue facing humanity is not the abstract existence of a deity, but the concrete existence

of suffering. While the Mufti Nadvi offers religious belief as the solution and Javed Akhtar offers secular values and collective human effort, the debate highlights that since suffering is a universal human experience, it demands a universal, secular framework for integration rather than a solution limited to the boundaries of a single faith.

5. The Irony of “Western” Arguments

Perhaps the greatest irony of the debate lies in the tools used by Mufti Nadvi.

• Imported Philosophy:The “Argument from Contingency” and the “Cosmological Argument” are deeply rooted in Western philosophy (Aristotle, Plato) and later adapted by Muslim philosophers (like Avicenna).
• Theological Contradiction:Historically, orthodox religious authorities often opposed these philosophical methods, tagging supporters of logic, science, and philosophy as heretics orkafirs. It is paradoxical that modern religious apologists now rely on the very same “Western philosophical arguments” their predecessors despised to defend their faith.

6. From Indoctrination to Education

Ultimately, the discussion shouldn’t be about which specific religious God supposedly

revealed, but rather acknowledging that the greatest divine gift is the human capacity for reason. If we rely on this reasoning rather than the ‘ready-made’ arguments of religious doctrine, we can identify the actual, tangible causes of human suffering. The way forward requires a shift from indoctrination to education—moving humanity from the comfort of unquestionable beliefs to the scrutiny of accountable facts.

7. The Paradox of “Universal” Religion

While many might accept the spiritual concept of ultimate accountability before God, the problem arises when religion oversteps this boundary. Organized religion rarely stops at spiritual accountability; it intervenes in logic, scientific development, and politics. Furthermore, there is a fundamental contradiction in its claim of ‘universal acceptability.’ In reality, every religion is bound by its own regional characteristics—specific nomenclature, dressing styles, ‘godly’ languages, and cultural practices. A system that is so deeply rooted in a specific regional culture cannot truly claim to be universal without imposing that culture on others.”

Conclusion

The debate was a collision of two different worlds: the philosophical search for a First Cause and the humanistic demand for justice. While Mufti Nadvi may have presented a coherent argument for a Deistic Creator, he failed to bridge the gap to a Theistic God who cares about human worship.

Javed Akhtar’s critique remains unanswered: We do not need to prove the existence of a Creator as much as we need to question the silence of that Creator in the face of human suffering. Until religion can solve the problem of evil without resorting to circular belief, it cannot claim victory over reason.

The post Beyond Victory and Defeat: Why the ‘Does God Exist’ Debate Was Not a Win for Religion appeared first on SabrangIndia.

This release expanded the number of states and Union Territories with published draft rolls to 12, and taken together, the SIR has already resulted in the provisional deletion of more than 3.5 crore names from voter lists nationwide.

The scale and pace of these deletions have to be read alongside a significant policy recalibration by the Election Commission of India. Following controversies that first surfaced during the Bihar revision, the Commission issued a nationwide instruction on October 27, 2025, retaining the administrative framework of the SIR but relaxing provisions that had triggered legal and political backlash, particularly those relating to document collection and automatic deletions. Acknowledging that the “qualifying date of last intensive revision” varies widely across states—dating back to 2002 in Gujarat and Kerala and to 2003 in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh—the ECI conceded that a uniform, document-heavy verification model was untenable.

This unfolding process continues even as Uttar Pradesh—the most populous state in the country and home to its largest electorate—prepares to publish its draft rolls on December 31, 2025. Far from being viewed as a routine administrative exercise, the SIR has raised profound questions around transparency, procedural fairness, shifting burdens of proof, and the heightened risk of mass disenfranchisement, concerns that have been repeatedly documented and critically examined by Sabrang India through sustained, state-wise reporting on the ground realities of the revision process.

What distinguishes the 2025 SIR from previous revisions is not merely the scale of deletions but the manner in which verification has been conducted. The process has relied heavily on door-to-door enumeration, retrospective linkage to older electoral rolls, and documentary proof requirements that many voters—particularly migrants, informal workers, women, the elderly, and marginalised communities—struggle to fulfil.

While deletions have been officially categorised as relating to deaths, migration, duplication, or non-traceability, civil society groups and independent observers have warned that these categories often mask deeper procedural failures, including non-visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), incorrect tagging, and the presumption of ineligibility in the absence of documentation. Against this backdrop, the cumulative picture emerging from state-wise draft rolls is deeply unsettling.

Bihar: Early completion, large-scale deletions

Bihar was among the first states where the SIR process was completed and final rolls published, making it a crucial reference point for understanding the scale and implications of the exercise.

According to figures reported by Sabrang India, nearly 47 lakh names were deleted from Bihar’s electoral rolls, bringing down the total electorate from approximately 7.89 crore to about 7.42 crore. The deletions were attributed to voters recorded as deceased, permanently migrated, untraceable, or duplicated across constituencies.

However, reports and petitioners before the Supreme Court pointed to widespread complaints that enumeration forms were either not delivered or collected, and that entire households of migrant workers were marked absent without follow-up verification.

Uttar Pradesh: The largest test yet, draft rolls on December 31

Uttar Pradesh represents the single largest and most politically significant phase of the SIR. With an electorate running into several crores, the state accounts for a substantial share of India’s voters, making any large-scale deletion potentially transformative. Enumeration in UP was extended on December 11, and the draft electoral roll is now scheduled for publication on December 31, 2025. While deletion figures are not yet officially available, reports suggest that UP may account for a significant portion of the remaining corrections once its draft roll is released.

Rajasthan: Over 41 lakh names provisionally removed in draft rolls

In Rajasthan, the SIR resulted in the provisional deletion of approximately 41.85 lakh names from the draft electoral rolls out of 5, 48, 84, 479 total electorate of the state. The state completed enumeration in early December, with the draft roll published in mid-month i.e., December 16. Official explanations cite deaths, permanent migration, and duplicate entries as the primary reasons for deletion.

मतदाता सूची विशेष गहन पुनरीक्षण–2026
राज्य में प्रारूप मतदाता सूचियों का आज 16 दिसम्बर 2025 को हुआ प्रकाशन – @CeoRajasthan
पढ़ें गणना चरण के प्रमुख निष्कर्ष #शुद्धमतदातासूचीमजबूतलोकतंत्र @ECISVEEP@spokespersonECI @PIB_INDIA @DIPRRajasthan@DDNational@airnews_jaipur… pic.twitter.com/wMbyvF3ypT

— CEO RAJASTHAN (@CeoRajasthan) December 16, 2025

Madhya Pradesh: Detailed categories, massive numbers with 42, 74, 160 deletions

Madhya Pradesh offers one of the most detailed official breakdowns of provisional deletions, with 42, 74, 160 names flagged for removal from the draft rolls on December 23. According to official data reported, these deletions include approximately 8.46 lakh deceased voters, over 31.5 lakh voters recorded as having shifted permanently, around 2.77 lakh duplicate entries, and a substantial number categorised as “unmapped” or unverified.

The enumeration period in MP was extended, and the draft roll was published on December 23, 2025 following a revised schedule. Despite the availability of granular data, activists have questioned whether the categorisation process itself relied too heavily on assumptions rather than verifiable evidence, especially in rural and forested areas.

27 अक्टूबर 2025 की स्थिति में प्रदेश में 5,74,06,143 मतदाता थे। वर्तमान में 5,31,31,983 मतदाता हैं। विशेष गहन पुनरीक्षण (SIR) के दौरान 42,74,160 मतदाताओं की कमी हुई हैं. श्री राम प्रताप सिंह जादौन, संयुक्त मुख्य निर्वाचन पदाधिकारी, मप्र @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI pic.twitter.com/dffrxvgNnE

— Chief Electoral Officer, Madhya Pradesh (@CEOMPElections) December 23, 2025

Tamil Nadu: Nearly 97 lakh deletions

Tamil Nadu witnessed one of the highest absolute numbers of deletions, with close to 97 lakh names provisionally removed from the draft electoral rolls out of 6, 41, 14 ,587 of the total electorate of the state. The impact was particularly pronounced in urban centres such as Chennai, where frequent relocation, rental housing, and informal settlements complicate voter registration.

Press release. pic.twitter.com/h02SIQkX4P

— TN Elections CEO (@TNelectionsCEO) December 19, 2025

Enumeration deadlines in the state were extended, and draft rolls were published in the third week of December i.e., December 19, 2025.

The Hindu, on December 22, carried analysis, on the unusual patterns (anomalies) behind the deletions in the state with detailed findings on eight different categories of anomalies: dead voters, voters who were under the shifted/moved categories etc.

This analysis, among other things, reveals that 14 stations show unusually high proportions of young deaths; 35 stations show high gender bias in deletions; 8,613 stations have abnormally high deletion rates; 727 stations report excessive deaths; 3,904 polling stations show high death proportions; 495 polling stations show 100% death-based deletions; 6,139 parts have high numbers of “absent” voters; and 172 parts show suspicious patterns of “permanently shifted” women. The entire analysis may be read here.

West Bengal: Around 58 lakh names flagged for removal

In West Bengal, the SIR process has assumed an acute social and political dimension, with close to 58 lakh names either deleted or provisionally flagged for deletion in the draft electoral rolls published on December 16. Of these, around 50 lakh names were identified during digitised enumeration as potentially removable, a figure that rose sharply within days as categorisation progressed. With a certified electorate of over 7.66 crore, this provisional flagging represented a significant share of voters and triggered widespread anxiety.

Press Note – West Bengal SIR: Publication of Draft Electoral Roll – Key Findings of Enumeration Phase.#SIR #PressNote@ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI @PIBKolkata @AIRKolkata @DDBanglaNews pic.twitter.com/G6Ix4wyPIz

— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) December 16, 2025

Official breakdowns indicated that the majority of cases were marked under standard administrative categories—deceased voters, those recorded as having shifted, untraceable names and duplicates—but the speed and scale of the exercise, rather than the categories themselves, became the source of public distress.

The situation escalated after the state government linked at least 39 deaths to what it described as “SIR-induced panic,” prompting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to announce Rs. 2 lakh ex gratia compensation for bereaved families and to launch block-level “May I Help You” camps from December 12 to assist affected voters with claims, objections and documentation.

While the Election Commission has maintained that the figures are provisional and subject to hearings and due process, reports from across districts documented confusion among long-registered voters whose names were flagged or missing, reinforcing concerns raised by opposition parties that verification and outreach were uneven in a state marked by high migration, dense urban settlements and socio-economic vulnerability.

Puducherry: Small electorate, significant impact

Though Puducherry’s electorate is relatively small, the deletion of around 1 lakh names constitutes a substantial share of the Union Territory’s total electorate of 10,21,578 as on October 27, 2025.

Press Note 16.12.2025 – Publication of Draft Electoral Roll@ECISVEEP #ECI #SIR #ceolakshadweep pic.twitter.com/s2UPtgrTFF

— CEO LAKSHADWEEP (@LakshadweepCeo) December 16, 2025

Enumeration and draft publication followed the national SIR schedule, but local reports highlighted that many of those flagged or deleted were migrant workers and residents of industrial and peri-urban zones who were unavailable during verification visits, raising concerns about how absence was interpreted during the revision process.

Pess Note-Lakshadweep Special Intensive Revision – Key Findings Of Enumeration Phase@ECISVEEP #ECI #SIR pic.twitter.com/hpsyiETXzA

— CEO LAKSHADWEEP (@LakshadweepCeo) December 16, 2025

Chhattisgarh: Over 27 lakhs provisionally deleted amid security and migration challenges

Chhattisgarh saw the provisional deletion of approximately 27.34 lakh names from its draft rolls. The state’s unique challenges—ranging from internal displacement due to conflict to seasonal labour migration—complicated the enumeration process. Official data categorised deletions into deceased voters, permanently shifted individuals, and duplicate registrations.

23 दिसंबर 2025 को ड्राफ्ट रोल प्रकाशित हो गया है। जिसे आप https://t.co/D5DfuRyplH अथवा https://t.co/S06LG1wQuS पर लॉगिन करके अपना नाम ढूंढ सकते हैं। pic.twitter.com/nAiB3zrY38

— Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh (@CEOChhattisgarh) December 23, 2025

The enumeration deadline was extended, and draft rolls were published on December 23 following the revised ECI schedule.

SIR 2026 की ड्राफ्ट मतदाता सूची का प्रकाशन 23/12/25 को हो गया है।

ड्राफ्ट मतदाता सूची https://t.co/o4izjd1j8X aur https://t.co/MO0ZmklYlF पर उपलब्ध है।

मुख्य निर्वाचन पदाधिकारी श्री यशवंत कुमार द्वारा अपील की गई कि सभी मतदाता ड्राफ्ट मतदाता सूची में अपना नाम जांच ले, (1/2) pic.twitter.com/FNrvLBlJT9

— Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh (@CEOChhattisgarh) December 23, 2025

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: High proportionate deletions

In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, around 64,000 names were provisionally deleted from the draft rolls out of 3,10,404 total electors of the UTs. Given the small population base, this represented a substantial proportion of registered voters. Migration to the mainland and employment-related movement were cited as primary reasons, though verification in remote islands posed logistical challenges.

The Draft Electoral Roll has been formally handed over to representatives of recognized Political Parties.
The successful completion of Enumeration Phase reflects strong public participation and coordinated efforts by election officials and stakeholders, strengthening democracy. pic.twitter.com/Yd1D1frub3

— Chief Electoral Officer, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (@AndamanCEO) December 24, 2025

Kerala: Over 24.08 lakh names removed

Kerala recorded provisional deletions of approximately 24.08 lakh voters, with official breakdowns including deceased individuals, voters permanently shifted out of the state, untraceable persons, and duplicate registrations. Overseas migration played a significant role, with many voters absent during enumeration. The state’s enumeration period was extended, and draft rolls were published on December 23, 2025.

The SIR draft electoral roll has now been published. Voters can file claims and objections from 23 December 2025 to 22 January 2026.#ceokerala #ecisveep #eci #ChiefElectoralOfficer #SIRKerala pic.twitter.com/RghZWqvc5s

— Chief Electoral Officer Kerala (@Ceokerala) December 23, 2025

Gujarat: 73.7 lakh deletions

Gujarat’s draft rolls reflected the deletion of about 73.7 lakh names, largely concentrated in urban and industrial areas. Rapid urbanisation, labour migration, and multiple registrations were cited as key factors. Enumeration deadlines were extended, and draft rolls were released on December 19.

Goa: Over one lakh names flagged for deletion

In Goa, 1,00,042 names were deleted from the draft electoral rolls. Migration, ageing population profiles, and duplication were cited as reasons. The deletions, while smaller in absolute terms, raised concerns in a state with a relatively compact electorate.

The DEO North Goa Ankit Yadav,IAS handing over the the copy the Draft Electoral Roll of SIR 2026 to the representatives of political parties #goa #india #SIR #ECI @ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/UgAE7fOYqV

— Chief Electoral Office, Goa (@CEO_Goa) December 16, 2025

Lakshadweep: Provisional deletion of 1,429 electors out of 57,813 total electors

Lakshadweep saw the provisional deletion of 1,429 electors out of 57,813 total electors of the UT.

Press Note 16.12.2025 – Publication of Draft Electoral Roll@ECISVEEP #ECI #SIR #ceolakshadweep pic.twitter.com/s2UPtgrTFF

— CEO LAKSHADWEEP (@LakshadweepCeo) December 16, 2025

Revised SIR timelines and the Uttar Pradesh factor

On December 11, the Election Commission revised enumeration and draft publication timelines across 6 states. In Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, enumeration was extended up to December 14, 2025, with draft electoral rolls subsequently published on December 19. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands were granted a longer window, allowing enumeration to continue until December 18, followed by the release of draft rolls on December 23, 2025. Kerala’s revision followed the same trajectory, culminating in draft roll publication on December 23 after extended field verification.

This synchronised release on December 23 marked a critical juncture in the SIR, with draft electoral rolls simultaneously entering the public domain in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, expanding the total to 12 states and Union Territories where draft rolls have now been published.

Across these jurisdictions, cumulative proposed deletions have already crossed the 3.5 crore mark, showing the unprecedented scale of the exercise. Uttar Pradesh, however, occupies a distinct and consequential position within this revised timeline. As India’s most populous state, it received the most substantial extension, with enumeration permitted until December 26, 2025 and the draft electoral roll scheduled for publication on December 31, 2025.

A process under challenge

Across states, Sabrang India has documented how the SIR, while presented as a technical correction, has unfolded as a high-stakes exercise with far-reaching consequences. With more than 3.5 names already facing deletion across 12 States/UTs and Uttar Pradesh yet to publish its draft roll, the cumulative impact of the revision is unprecedented. The challenge ahead lies not only in correcting errors through claims and objections but in addressing deeper questions about burden of proof, administrative accountability, and the right to vote in a context of widespread mobility and precarity.

Related:

Nearly 50 lakh names flagged for deletion in West Bengal, state government announces Rs. 2 Lakh relief for SIR-linked deaths, CM Mamta Banerjee launches ‘May I Help You’ block camps

ECI’s announced nationwide SIR, will cover 12 States and UTs with a reduced documentary burden

SIR exercise leaves trail of suicide across states as BLOs buckle under pressure and citizens panic over citizenship

The post SIR: Over 3.5 Crore electors flagged for removal across 12 states in SIR, Uttar Pradesh will publish its draft rolls on December 31 appeared first on SabrangIndia.