Congress alleges bid to purge voters in Rajasthan through SIR, seeks forensic probe

Overview On Monday, January 19, 2026 , the Congress party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring to fraudulently remove supporters of the Opposition in Rajasthan through the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party demanded a forensic investigation into the forms used for seeking the deletion of voters’ names, alleging a manipulation of the electoral process. Key Developments Allegations by Congress Govind Singh Dotasra , the Pradesh Congress Committee president , along with Tikaram Jully , the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly , addressed a press conference stating they would “not allow a murder of democracy in the State”. Dotasra alleged that the process of fraudulently adding and removing votes began after BJP’s national general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh visited Rajasthan on January 3, 2026 , and held a meeting. Following the SIR , the draft rolls showed 45 lakh electors marked as “absent, shifted or deceased”, with objections invited until January 15, 2026 . The Election Commission of India (EC) extended the deadline to January 19, 2026 , for claims and objections in Rajasthan , along with Goa, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, and West Bengal . Data and Claims Citing data from the EC’s website, Dotasra claimed that between December 17, 2025 , and January 14, 2026 , the BJP , through 937 booth-level agents, sought the deletion of 5,694 names and the addition of 211 , while the Congress , through 110 agents, applied to add 185 names and delete two . The Rajasthan Congress chief alleged a surge in Form 7 applications in select constituencies, including 13,882 in Jhunjhunu and 16,276 in Mandawa in a single day, adding that about 1.4 lakh forms had been registered. Dotasra alleged a “secret operation” between January 3 and 13, 2026 , after Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the State and stayed at the Chief Minister’s residence, claiming collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission . He further claimed that “ 10,000-15,000 fake computerised forms are printed in every Assembly constituency” to remove names from the voter list, specifically targeting constituencies where the Congress party won the election. Demands for Investigation Tikaram Jully demanded that the EC and the Supreme Court order a forensic probe to ascertain “where these were printed and who brought them here”. Jully stated that the SIR in Rajasthan has become ‘ CVR ’ or ‘ Congress Voter Removal ’ and demanded a forensic audit of the forms submitted by BJP agents. BJP's Response The BJP has rejected similar allegations as “baseless”. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to GS2: Polity and Governance , specifically concerning elections, electoral processes, and the role of the Election Commission of India. It also touches upon issues of governance and transparency in electoral practices. The allegations of fraudulent voter deletion raise questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the potential for political interference. Potential Exam Questions Discuss the role and responsibilities of the Election Commission of India in ensuring free and fair elections. Analyze the impact of allegations of voter list manipulation on the democratic process. Evaluate the measures that can be taken to prevent fraudulent activities during electoral roll revisions.

Congress alleges bid to purge voters in Rajasthan through SIR, seeks forensic probe

Key Points

Full Article

Congress alleges bid to purge voters in Rajasthan through SIR, seeks forensic probe

Congress alleges bid to purge voters in Rajasthan through SIR, seeks forensic probe

Overview

Key Points

Full Article

Analysis