Over 62 lakh voters deleted from Gujarat rolls since Jan 2025, activist raises concerns

By A Representative

Ahmedabad: More than 62 lakh voters have been deleted from Gujarat’s electoral rolls since January 2025, according to data compiled from official records, prompting concerns from election transparency advocates.

Figures drawn from the 2024 Lok Sabha election data, the January 2025 final electoral roll, and the 2026 Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process published by the Election Commission of India show a significant drop in registered electors in the state.

During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Gujarat had 4,97,96,232 registered voters. Following the Brief Summary Revision conducted between October and December 2024, the final roll published in early January 2025 recorded 5,03,15,260 electors.

However, under the SIR 2026 process, the draft roll listed 4,34,70,109 voters, while the final roll recorded 4,40,30,725 electors.

This indicates a deletion of 62,84,535 voters between January 2025 and the SIR 2026 final roll. Compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha election figures, the decline stands at 57,65,507 voters.

Pankti Jog, activist with Gujarat Election Watch, said the scale of deletions warrants scrutiny. “The above figures reveal that in Gujarat the number of voters has decreased considerably,” she said.

Jog noted that before publishing the draft roll, the Election Commission had uploaded booth-wise lists categorising electors as “shifted”, “dead”, and “absent”, but did not release consolidated totals for these categories. She said the reduction in numbers appears linked to these classifications.

“Did the ECI cross-check whether people in the ‘shifted’ and ‘absent’ categories were not eligible voters? Officially, we do not see any provision in SIR 2026 to verify this status,” she said.

She further pointed out that during the 2002 SIR exercise, there was a provision to map voters from their place of origin to their destination in cases of relocation. “There may be eligible voters who have not filled the enumeration form simply because they were not present during the enumeration process,” Jog said.

The Election Commission has not issued a detailed public clarification on the cumulative figures of deletions under the SIR 2026 exercise.

The data referenced in the analysis is drawn from official statistical reports of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, media reports quoting the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat in January 2025, and the SIR final roll data published by the Commission.

Comments

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup* I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

Alarming decline in India's repair culture threatens circular economy goals: Study

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive new study by environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has painted a worrying picture of India's fading repair culture, warning that the trend towards replacement over repair is accelerating the country's already critical e-waste crisis.

Dr. Ram Bux Singh: Biogas pioneer’s legacy gains urgency amid energy crisis

By A Representative In an era defined by a global energy crisis and a desperate search for sustainable solutions, the visionary work of an Indian scientist from the mid-20th century is finding renewed, urgent relevance. Dr. Ram Bux Singh , a pioneering figure in biogas and renewable energy , is being posthumously honored by the Government of India, even as his decades-old innovations provide a blueprint for today’s challenges.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”

‘No merit’ in Chakraborty’s claims: Personal ethics talk sans details raises questions

By Jag Jivan A recent opinion piece published in The Quint by Subhash Chandra Garg has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Atanu Chakraborty from HDFC Bank , with Garg stating that the exit “raises doubts about his own ‘ethics’.” Garg, currently Chief Policy Advisor at Subhanjali and former Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India, writes that the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) appears to find no substance in Chakraborty’s claims, noting, “It is clear the RBI sees no merit in Atanu Chakraborty’s wild and vague assertions.”

Study links sanctions to 500,000 deaths annually leading to rise in global backlash

By Bharat Dogra International opinion is increasingly turning against the expanding burden of sanctions imposed on a growing number of countries. These measures are contributing to humanitarian crises, intensifying domestic discord, and heightening international tensions, thereby increasing the risks of conflicts and wars.

Search This Blog