Panaji, Goa | 3 November 2026
The Congress party’s agitation against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is nothing but an attempt to create political confusion and mislead the people. While Congress claims to be fighting to save democracy, its opposition to cleaning up electoral rolls raises serious questions about its commitment to free and fair elections.
Speaking to the media, I questioned Congress’s exaggerated claims of mobilising ten lakh people at Ramlila Maidan, which has an estimated capacity of approximately 50,000. From Goa, barely 60 people reportedly participated in this much-publicised agitation. The gap between Congress’s claims and ground reality speaks for itself.
Congress must answer a few simple questions. Does it want deceased persons to remain on electoral rolls? Does it want duplicate entries to continue? Why does it oppose the removal of names of people who have permanently shifted or are registered elsewhere?
In Goa, the SIR exercise identified 25,574 deceased persons, 40,469 permanent migrants and 1,997 individuals registered elsewhere among the deleted entries. At the same time, 12,166 new voters were added, strengthening the participation of eligible young voters.
These figures clearly establish that SIR is not an exercise against genuine voters. It is an exercise to ensure that every eligible citizen enjoys the right to vote and that every vote is counted only once.
Rahul Gandhi has made sweeping allegations regarding the deletion of 13.3 crore names nationally, including approximately 2.8 crore deceased voters, as per figures cited by him. The Election Commission has sought a sworn affidavit or an apology from him over his allegations. Congress cannot simply make serious allegations and then avoid accountability.
Congress cannot claim to defend democracy while opposing transparency in the electoral process. Electoral rolls are not the property of any political party. They belong to the people and must reflect genuine, eligible voters.
My position is very clear: democracy requires clean electoral rolls. Deceased persons cannot vote, duplicate entries cannot be allowed to compromise elections, and every eligible citizen must have an equal opportunity to exercise their democratic right.
Congress may organise rallies and manufacture political controversies, but it cannot turn an essential electoral reform into a political weapon.
I firmly believe in one principle: ONE CITIZEN, ONE VOTE. SIR strengthens democracy, protects electoral integrity and ensures that the voice of every genuine voter matters. India’s democracy must be protected through clean and credible electoral rolls.
Siddesh Shripad Naik
State Media Convenor
BJP Goa
