'14-15 Crore Population Eliminated': Former CEC SY Quraishi Takes Dig at Election Commission Over SIR

Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi launched a sharp critique against the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday over its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive. Addressing the media in Bhubaneswar, Quraishi questioned the transparency of the exercise and took a sarcastic jab at the electoral body, claiming the process has effectively "eliminated" nearly 15 percent of the country’s population from the electoral rolls without disclosing data on illegal immigrants.

Sarcastic Take on Population Deletion and Missing Figures

Taking aim at the ECI’s primary justification for the SIR-identifying and removing illegal immigrants-Quraishi urged the commission to make its findings public. He noted that despite the massive scale of voter deletions across multiple states, the poll body has failed to release specific numbers regarding how many foreign nationals or undocumented immigrants were actually detected. SIR 2026: How To Check Name in Draft Voter List in Maharashtra and Delhi.

"I would like to compliment the Election Commission for completing a very difficult mission of eliminating about 14–15 crore population of India through this exercise," Quraishi told news agency ANI. "It's a pity they have not disclosed this figure. I would request them to please come out with this figure... You have contributed a lot to population control by eliminating about 15% of India's population."

Constitutional Rights Versus Administrative Discretion

The former chief election commissioner reiterated his stance that the intensive revision process lacks good intent and infringes on democratic rights. Emphasizing Article 326 of the Constitution, Quraishi stressed that adult suffrage and voter registration are fundamental democratic guarantees rather than privileges granted by election authorities.

He asserted that mass voter deletions alter the core fabric of Indian democracy, maintaining that the systematic exclusion of citizens from voter lists under the guise of list purification sets a concerning precedent. Maharashtra and Delhi Draft Voter Lists Out: Step-by-Step Guide on What To Do if Your Name Is Missing.

Purpose and Backlash Surrounding the SIR Drive

Nationwide implementation of the Special Intensive Revision began in October 2025 under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to the ECI, the initiative aims to clean up electoral rolls by removing duplicate entries, deceased voters, individuals who have migrated, and non-citizens.

However, the drive has faced heavy political backlash, particularly in election-going states like Maharashtra, where draft voter lists reportedly showed a drop of nearly two crore voters compared to previous counts. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have alleged that the exercise is being used to selectively disenfranchise voters, while the ECI maintains that the process ensures an accurate and updated roll.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2026 12:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).