Rains slow SIR drive in Vizianagaram district
Incessant rains have hampered the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Vizianagaram district, despite the efforts by the district administration to complete the
Incessant rains have hampered the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Vizianagaram district, despite the efforts by the district administration to complete the task before July 14, 2026, the deadline set by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have reportedly sought an extension of the deadline with ECI authorities, as the one month period (June 15 to July 14, 2026) is not enough time to complete the SIR process.
Officials attribute the slow pace of enumeration to the non-availability of farmers, agriculture labourers due to the ongoing Kharif season, little awareness about SIR and other reasons. In villages, the door-to-door survey is yet to pick up. Of the 15,76,857 enumeration forms distributed so far, 9,26, 946 forms have been digitised, accounting for 52.37% of the total. Many forms are yet to be returned to the BLOs, while about 30,000 forms remain yet to be distributed.
Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy along with Joint Collector Sedhu Madhavan have warned concerned officials that any delays in the enumeration process would lead to disciplinary action by the government. YSRCP allege Meanwhile, representatives of political parties and some residents alleged that the enumeration forms are not being distributed and are lying piled up in the local revenue offices and ward secretariats. YSRCP leaders have further alleged that names of minorities, Scheduled Castes and Tribes were being removed systematically from the voters’ list.
They have urged the ECI to intensify publicity about SIR and create awareness about the Voter Helpline (1950) for registering complaints and grievances. Vizianagaram Zilla Parishad chairperson and YSRCP district president Majji Srinivasa Rao has asked all local leaders and activists to remain vigilant during the enumeration process, since there is a possibility of names of YSRCP supporters and sympathisers being removed/deleted.
The BriefWire