TNI Bureau: In a strongly worded letter to the Election Commission of India, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sasmit Patra has raised urgent concerns over the proposed deletion of nearly 9.8 lakh voters during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Odisha.

Addressing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Patra highlighted what he described as “prima facie evidence” of procedural lapses and potential wrongful disenfranchisement of eligible voters. He noted that the scale of proposed deletions is unprecedented and significantly higher than normal annual revisions, raising questions about the accuracy and integrity of the process.

The MP pointed to multiple concerns, including a surge in complaints from citizens who claim they were wrongly marked for deletion despite residing at their registered addresses. He also flagged alleged failures by Booth Level Officers to conduct mandatory field verification in several cases—an essential step in ensuring due process.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, Patra cited reports of nearly 2 lakh objections filed in a short span, indicating widespread public anxiety and possible inconsistencies in the revision exercise. He further noted that recent directions for re-verification by the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha implicitly acknowledge non-trivial errors in the process.

Calling the issue a matter of constitutional significance under Article 326, which guarantees the right to vote, Patra urged the Commission to intervene decisively. Among his key recommendations are a statewide re-verification of flagged cases, greater transparency through public disclosure of deletion data, and the establishment of independent audit mechanisms in affected districts.

He also appealed for strengthening grievance redressal systems to ensure that affected voters receive adequate opportunity to respond and seek restoration.

Additionally, Dr. Patra recommended deputing a dedicated ECI team to Odisha for on-ground assessment and submission of a detailed report.
“Unless subjected to robust safeguards, the current exercise risks the inadvertent exclusion of eligible voters,” Patra cautioned, urging swift and transparent corrective measures.

The Election Commission has yet to issue an official response to the concerns raised.