Lucknow, Dec 09: BSP chief Mayawati on Monday raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Uttar Pradesh, stating that completing the exercise in haste could remove the names of poor and migrant workers who are currently employed outside the state.
Although she did not oppose SIR itself, she said the timeline allotted to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) was “too short” considering the state’s vast population.
Mayawati posted her remarks on X, where she said Uttar Pradesh has over 15.4 crore voters and any rushed revision may leave thousands deprived of their constitutional right to vote. She added that several BLOs have reported excessive workload and pressure during the revision drive.
She further said that any attempt to complete SIR “too quickly” could violate the spirit of electoral inclusion envisioned by Dr B. R. Ambedkar. According to her, the Election Commission should extend the time period to ensure accurate verification.
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Mayawati also repeated her stance that responsibility for disclosing criminal records should lie strictly with candidates, not with political parties. She argued that parties often discover details late during scrutiny, resulting in unfair liability.
Bring back ballot
Mayawati reiterated her long-standing demand that elections should be conducted through ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). She claimed that recurring complaints regarding EVM malfunction undermine public confidence. She said that if ballot voting cannot be restored immediately, all VVPAT slips should be counted at every booth and matched with EVM totals.
