Congress calls SIR ‘Shah Instigated Removal’, flags large-scale voter deletions

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Election Commission of India (ECI) began Phase 1 of the SIR process in June 2025 in Bihar, followed by Phase 2 in November 2025 across nine states and three Union Territories (UTs).

Ramesh said 7.8 crore voter names were deleted during Phases 1 and 2, with the deletions accounting for 13% of the pre-SIR electoral roll.

Phase 3 began in 16 states and three UTs in mid-2026, he said.

Rames alleged that, according to data from 12 states and two UTs, 6.18 crore of the 36.06 crore voters covered in the ongoing phase have had their names deleted.