Ex-Tripura CM and veteran CPIM leader Manik Sarkar suspect a nationwide SIR rollout if SIR implementation Bihar fetches good electoral results for the saffron party.
Agartala (Tripura), July 25 – Former Tripura Chief Minister and senior CPIM leader Manik Sarkar on Thursday cautioned that the BJP may implement the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in other states if it gains political advantage in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections through the process.
Speaking at a party gathering, Sarkar alleged that the BJP, in collaboration with its ally Janata Dal (United), realized that winning the Bihar Assembly elections—likely to be held in November—would not be a smooth affair. To tip the scales in their favor, he claimed, the BJP orchestrated the SIR with support from the Election Commission.
“If the BJP manages to secure electoral benefits in Bihar through the SIR mechanism, the same model will likely be extended to other election-bound states such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry,” said Sarkar, a former politburo member of CPIM.
Referring to media reports, Sarkar alleged that the SIR process has already led to the deletion of around 50 to 52 lakh names from Bihar’s electoral rolls—majorly affecting Muslim and Dalit communities.
He pointed out that the final electoral rolls, prepared post the SIR exercise last year, were published in January across Bihar and other states. These revised rolls, he claimed, may now be used for conducting the state elections.
Sarkar also accused the BJP of systematically undermining democratic norms and constitutional values by pushing the ideological agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
He warned that such actions could have long-term repercussions for the country’s democratic framework.
TMP’s SIR in Tripura Push
Meanwhile, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) has also raised the demand for implementing the SIR process in Tripura. Following a meeting with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday, TMP chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma said the poll body had assured that the SIR would be conducted nationwide.
The TMP delegation, comprising nine members and led by Debbarma, met the full bench of the ECI headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. During the meeting, they formally urged the Commission to carry out a Special Intensive Revision in Tripura, similar to the one undertaken in Bihar.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi after the meeting, Debbarma, who is also a member of Tripura’s erstwhile royal family, stressed the need to identify and eliminate illegal voters to protect the future of the region.
“Illegal migration poses a serious threat to the demographic balance of Tripura and the entire northeast. Unless illegal voters are identified now, the next generation will suffer. Thankfully, the ECI has given us a positive assurance that the SIR will be carried out across the country, including Tripura,” Debbarma said.
In a memorandum submitted to the ECI, the TMP also demanded that the SIR process in Tripura include an exhaustive door-to-door verification drive, mirroring the approach adopted in Bihar. (Edited)
