Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar urged the Election Department to ensure no eligible voter is excluded during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, beginning September 5, 2026. He stressed protecting existing voters, adding newly eligible voters and carefully handling registration changes for married women.
Former Tripura Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar has urged the Election Department to ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the electoral rolls during the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state.
Sarkar made the appeal on Saturday, a day after the state Election Department announced that the SIR process in Tripura would begin on September 5, 2026. He stressed the need for a careful and transparent revision process so that genuine voters do not lose their right to vote because of procedural difficulties.
Speaking to reporters, Sarkar said voters who had exercised their franchise in previous elections should not have their names removed from the electoral rolls without proper consideration. At the same time, he called for the inclusion of citizens who have since attained the eligible voting age.
“The voters who had been able to cast their votes in the previous elections shouldn’t have their names deleted from the electoral rolls,” Sarkar said, underlining the importance of ensuring that both elderly voters and newly eligible young citizens are able to participate in the democratic process.
The former chief minister also referred to SIR exercises carried out in other states and alleged that the revision process had, in some instances, created difficulties for sections of voters. He specifically mentioned minority communities, Scheduled Castes and economically weaker sections while expressing concern over possible challenges faced by vulnerable groups.
Citing Bihar and West Bengal, Sarkar urged election officials in Tripura to conduct the revision process independently and fairly. He also appealed to political parties and their workers to remain cautious and responsible during the exercise.
Sarkar further highlighted the issue of married women who shift from their parental homes to their matrimonial homes after marriage. Such voters may need changes to their electoral registration details, including their polling station and constituency-related information.
“Married daughters move to their in-laws’ house after marriage. Previously they might have voted from their parental home but now their polling station and area of voting shall change,” he said.
He urged the Election Department to pay adequate attention to such cases and ensure that genuine voters are not excluded because their residential or electoral details have changed.
The Special Intensive Revision is aimed at updating and verifying electoral rolls ahead of future elections. Such exercises involve checking existing voter records, incorporating newly eligible citizens and addressing changes in voter information.
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Sarkar’s remarks come as political parties and election authorities prepare for the SIR exercise in Tripura. His appeal focused on ensuring that the revision remains inclusive and that administrative procedures do not prevent eligible citizens from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
He also called for vigilance among political parties and their workers so that the process can be carried out smoothly and without unnecessary controversy. Sarkar maintained that the primary objective should be to protect the voting rights of eligible citizens while ensuring that electoral rolls remain accurate and updated.
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The Election Department’s announcement of the September 5 start date has placed renewed focus on the electoral roll revision process across Tripura. With the exercise approaching, concerns over the inclusion of existing voters, newly eligible voters and those requiring changes to their registration details are expected to remain important issues during the SIR.
