Story perspectives

Shashi Tharoor Demands Reversal of Election Commission’s SIR

By Drooid · Oct 19, 2026, 11:58 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor rejected opposition’s alleged regime-change aim and called for free, fair elections.
He said India differs from Bangladesh and France, making such analogies irrelevant.
He condemned the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision for improperly removing many voters from rolls.
He labeled the SIR process troublesome, irregular and partially illegal, demanding its reversal.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, the Election Commission of India executed a sweeping voter-list revision that removed roughly 1.5 million names, igniting nationwide controversy. The BJP and Congress filed petitions, and the Supreme Court intervened, ordering a temporary halt after 12 percent of constituencies reported disenfranchisement. Today's Special Intensive Revision mirrors that 1995 purge, as MP Shashi Tharoor and opposition parties decry irregular deletions and demand reversal. Repeated roll clean-ups risk eroding public trust, prompting calls for transparent technology and legal safeguards before the 2024 general election.

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Story summary

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor rejected opposition’s alleged regime-change aim and called for free, fair elections.
He said India differs from Bangladesh and France, making such analogies irrelevant.
He condemned the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision for improperly removing many voters from rolls.
He labeled the SIR process troublesome, irregular and partially illegal, demanding its reversal.

1 / 2