SIR targets Muslims and SP supporters in UP, alleges Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of “working together” in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh , claiming that the process has been used to target Muslim and SP supporters.

Addressing reporters, Yadav alleged that large numbers of Form 7 applications seeking deletion of names were submitted by unknown persons, disproportionately affecting Pichda, Dalit and minority (PDA) voters. “Despite complaints to district authorities and the Election Commission, no action has been taken. If even one local officer or district chief had been held accountable, these irregularities could have been prevented. This shows, in my view, that the Election Commission and the government are working together,” he said.

Yadav’s remarks come amid political heat over figures released after the draft voter lists were published. According to data from the Uttar Pradesh election authorities, nearly 2.89 crore names, roughly 18.7 per cent of the total electorate, have been deleted from the state’s voter rolls following the SIR process. This means that the draft list now contains about 12.55 crore registered voters , down from around 15.44 crore previously.

The SIR, a comprehensive house‑to‑house verification and update of voter lists required ahead of major elections, has sparked controversy nationwide. In Uttar Pradesh, deletions include voters classified as deceased, shifted, duplicate, absent or untraceable during the enumeration phase.

Opposition parties have seized on the figures, alleging political manipulation, while the Election Commission maintains that the exercise is a routine and lawful effort to clean up electoral rolls ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls . Meanwhile, help desks have been set up across the state to assist voters with queries and ensure genuine voters are included in the final lists before publication.

Commenting on a recent US‑India trade agreement , Yadav also expressed concern over its potential impact on domestic agriculture, saying his party would oppose any deal that harms farmers and the poor.

The political battle over SIR and voter deletions is cutting across party lines, with parties from different states raising similar concerns as electoral rolls undergo revision ahead of multiple upcoming elections.