TNI Bureau: Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sasmit Patra has formally petitioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) to intervene in Odisha’s upcoming electoral roll revision, citing “serious concerns” over the massive deletion of voters during preliminary checks.

In a detailed letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar on May 14, 2026, Patra highlighted the removal of approximately 9.8 lakh voters during a “Pre-SIR” (Special Intensive Revision) exercise. The Member of Parliament described the scale of these deletions as “unusually large” and alleged that many eligible citizens had been wrongfully identified for removal.

The dispute arises just as the ECI prepares to launch Phase III of the nationwide SIR exercise in Odisha this July. According to official data cited in Patra’s letter, the state currently has 3,34,33,659 electors. To manage the revision, the commission has deployed:

• 38,123 Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
• 8,391 Booth Level Agents (BLAs)
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Sasmit Patra argued that inconsistencies in field verification and “documentation deficiencies” have already led to a substantial volume of objections from concerned citizens. “In a large-scale exercise such as this, even limited lapses may affect a significant number of genuine voters,” Patra wrote, emphasizing that maintaining accurate rolls is fundamental to democratic integrity.

Demands for Transparency
To prevent further “inadvertent exclusions,” the MP proposed an eight-point safeguard plan for the July rollout. Key demands include:

• Mandatory Field Inquiries: Every proposed deletion must be preceded by a documented, verifiable field inquiry.
• Advance Notice: Voters must be given reasonable opportunity to respond before being struck from the rolls.
• Public Disclosure: Periodic, constituency-wise disclosure of all deletions and corrections to ensure transparency.
• Vulnerable Outreach:
Focused efforts to reach elderly, tribal, and migrant populations who may face higher risks of exclusion.

Dr. Patra also called for the deployment of dedicated observer teams to monitor areas reporting high volumes of deletions. The Election Commission has not yet issued a formal response to the MP’s latest representation.