Former UP CM Urges Election Commission to Protect Voter Rights Amid SIR Controversy
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has strongly criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that it is being used as a political tool to target voters opposing the BJP. He claimed that the SIR is essentially the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in disguise , introduced indirectly because the NRC could not be implemented directly.
During his visit to Hyderabad to participate in the Vision India – AI Summit , Akhilesh said that over three crore voters have allegedly been removed due to SIR. He urged the Election Commission of India to ensure that voter participation is increased rather than voter names being deleted. He emphasised that democratic rights must be protected and called for transparent and fair implementation of the process.
Akhilesh highlighted that the documentation required under SIR mirrors what would have been needed under the NRC. He noted that policies such as demonetisation, COVID-19 restrictions, GST implementation , and now SIR have caused public inconvenience due to bureaucratic difficulties.
During his Hyderabad visit, Akhilesh met with Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy to discuss political developments and ongoing welfare and development programmes in the state. He also met BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) . Following the meetings, he stressed the importance of focusing on development and avoiding negativity in politics. Akhilesh indicated that he plans to meet BRS President K. Chandrashekar Rao in the near future.
The Vision India initiative , launched by Akhilesh in November, was also highlighted during the summit. The programme is designed to address emerging challenges such as the growing influence of AI in agriculture, healthcare, and other sectors, while promoting inclusive, progressive policies and youth empowerment.
Akhilesh criticised symbolic posturing in Parliament, stating that those who never sang “Vande Mataram” earlier are suddenly emphasising it. He reiterated that political decisions should focus on clarity, vision, and citizen welfare rather than divisive tactics.
The SIR controversy has emerged as a significant political issue in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections , with opposition parties likely to focus on electoral integrity and voter rights as a common narrative.