‘SIR’ might remove over 10 crore voters from electoral rolls across India: Prof. Yogendra Yadav
“The process could ultimately benefit the BJP,” says Yadav
Bengaluru: Political analyst Yogendra Yadav has expressed concern that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India across different states could result in the removal of more than 10 crore eligible voters across the country, mainly affecting migrant workers and the poorest sections of society.
He was speaking at a seminar titled “SIR: What is happening in 13 states? What needs to be done in Karnataka?” organised by the Jagruta Karnataka at the Kondaji Basappa Auditorium in the city on Saturday.
Yadav said that the SIR process is creating hardships for migrant workers. According to him, when people migrate for work, their names are often not included in the voter list at the place where they move, while their names are also removed from the voter list in their hometowns. He expressed concern that such developments could lead to a situation where people might one day be questioned about their citizenship.
“More than two crore people have already been removed from voter lists. In the SIR exercise in West Bengal, the final electoral roll is yet to be released. With the revision process currently underway in Karnataka and several other states, the number of voters removed across the country could reach around 10 crore by the time the exercise is completed,” he added.
Yadav also analysed the possible political impact of the revision.
He said some people argue that not all of the 10 crore voters would be opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
However, he said that if the bottom ten crore people in the country are removed from the voter rolls, many of them could be anti-BJP voters. “Even a small loss of votes for the BJP through the SIR process could affect the broader political structure, in my view the process could ultimately benefit the BJP,” he said.
The Election Commission, he said, had stated that the revision exercise aims to remove outsiders (foreign people) from electoral rolls. However, Yadav questioned how many of the people removed so far were actually outsiders ?. Referring to this, he remarked that the process was like “digging a hill and catching a dead mouse.”
“Democracy in India is under strain”
He further alleged that democracy in India was under strain.
According to him, although the Constitution exists, it is not being implemented properly.
He said there is a judiciary but no verdicts are passed against those in power, and elections are held but the results favour the ruling establishment.
Referring to the 2024 general elections, he said the slogan of “Char So Par” did not materialise, and that the message had reached the ruling establishment that while institutions such as the judiciary and executive could be managed, the people could not. He alleged that measures such as delimitation of constituencies, the proposal for “one nation, one election,” and the SIR process were being pursued in this context.
Speaking about the possible impact of seat redistribution in the Lok Sabha, Yadav said some states not governed by the BJP could see a reduction in seats.
According to him, Kerala’s seats could reduce to 12, Tamil Nadu’s could fall from 39 to 31, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana could also lose several seats. Karnataka too could lose two seats, he said, while seats in northern and Hindi-speaking states including Gujarat could increase.
Yadav also praised Karnataka’s history of social and political movements, stating that the state has often been seen as a guiding force for the rest of the country.
Referring to the M. D. Nanjundaswamy and the farmers’ movement led by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, as well as the contributions of writers and thinkers such as D. R. Nagaraj and Devanur Mahadeva in the Dalit movement, he said the entire country has often looked towards Karnataka for inspiration.
He added that efforts to oppose alleged vote rigging had also begun in the state and expressed hope that Karnataka would lead the fight against the SIR process as well.
Meanwhile, speaking at the programme, Jagruta Karnataka leader B. C. Basavaraj said the Election Commission should carry out thorough verification of electoral rolls but ensure that no eligible voter is excluded.
He said the Commission should identify those who are not on the voter list and add them so they can exercise their voting rights, rather than removing eligible voters during the SIR process.
Leaders including Rahul Shastri of the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, Avik Saha of the Jai Kisan Andolan, and Ashish Ranjan of the Jana Jagaran Shakti Sangathan were also present at the event.
Yadav further said that even if a person had voted in multiple elections earlier, failure to participate in the SIR process could result in their name being removed from the voter list.
He added that if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself did not apply for inclusion in the voter list during the SIR process, his name too could be deleted despite holding the office of Chief Minister.
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Trump rushed out of dinner event after shots fired; one arrested
Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the hotel.
The incident took place at around 8:34 PM local time when dinner was served. At that time, Trump was seen having a conversation with Weijia Jiang, the President of the White House Correspondents' Association, and mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was scheduled to present a show at the marquee event at the Washington Hilton here.
Secret Service officials and other security personnel covered the President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J D Vance, and the Second Lady Usha Vance, who were seated at the head table, and escorted them out of the ballroom.
Several guests at the dinner, including leaders across the political spectrum, journalists and other invitees, ducked under the table, apparently as a reflex reaction.
Putting up a brave face, President Trump later announced on Truth Social that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom is all that I heard, and many guests ducked under the table,” a C-SPAN reporter at the dinner said.
Hours later, Trump addressed a press conference at the White House and announced that the security personnel had captured one person who hails from California.
“I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray going down. I've heard that many times. It was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. He (the attacker) hadn't reached the area at all. They really got him,” Trump told reporters, recalling the incident.
Trump said one security officer was shot at but saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Several protestors had lined up on the road outside the hotel, raising slogans against the Trump administration and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A CNN reporter who was outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton said he saw a gunman opening fire just a few feet away. He was among the dozens of attendees who took cover as law enforcement swarmed the venue.
The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California.
Asked how Saturday’s incident impacts him as the US president, Trump told reporters he is in a dangerous job but that he is no “basket case.”
“I like not to think about it. I lead a pretty normal life, considering, you know, it’s a dangerous life. I think I handle it as well as it can be handled,” Trump said.
Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years – first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
“I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives...everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd,” he said.
“We had some great work done by law enforcement, but in light of this evening's events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said.
