The Assam government will extend full cooperation to the Election Commission’s upcoming special intensive revision (SIR) of voters’ lists, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday, asserting that the state is ready to assist in the exercise.
Sarma, speaking to reporters in Guwahati on the sidelines of an official event, said, “I don't know the topic of the press meet. However, whatever instruction we receive from the EC, we will work accordingly. If SIR is announced nationwide, definitely we will welcome it. We have already conveyed our view to the central government in this regard.”
The Election Commission is expected to announce details of the SIR in New Delhi later in the day, covering around 10 to 15 states in the first phase. The drive is aimed at ensuring accuracy in the electoral rolls ahead of assembly elections due next year in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The SIR is a detailed verification process through which the Election Commission seeks to eliminate duplication, identify deceased voters, and correct inaccuracies in the voter database. The exercise assumes significance in Assam, where the voters’ list remains a politically sensitive issue owing to past controversies over citizenship and inclusion.
Also read: Election Commission to announce pan-India SIR dates tomorrow
Officials said the revision will likely begin later this year and continue through early 2026 to ensure that the rolls are accurate and inclusive before the assembly polls. The Election Commission has in recent years intensified scrutiny of electoral rolls, particularly in states with high migration and demographic shifts.
Political observers noted that the process will be crucial for Assam, where voter verification has often been intertwined with the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and debates over illegal immigration.
Sarma said the state administration has always maintained close coordination with the central government and the Election Commission on such exercises.
“We have already conveyed our view to the central government in this regard,” he said, reiterating his government’s support for the EC’s initiative.
The Election Commission’s announcement later today is expected to detail the timeline and scope of the first phase of the revision, with subsequent phases to cover remaining states ahead of their electoral cycles.
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