Rain slowly SIR drive in Vizianagaram district

Booth level officers and staff are participating in the survey for the special intensive revision of the voter list in Vizianagaram. | Photo credit: HANDOUT

Incessant rains are hampering the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Vizianagaram district, despite the district administration’s efforts to complete the task by July 14, 2026, the deadline set by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have reportedly requested the ECI authorities to extend the deadline as the one month period (June 15 to July 14, 2026) is not sufficient to complete the SIR process.

Officials attribute the slow pace of enumeration to non-availability of farmers, farm laborers due to ongoing Kharif season, little awareness about SIR and other reasons.

In the villages, door-to-door survey is yet to take off. Out of the 15,76,857 enumeration forms distributed so far, 9,26,946 forms have been digitized, representing 52.37% of the total. Many forms are yet to be returned to the BLO while about 30,000 forms are still to be distributed.

Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy along with Joint Collector Sedhu Madhavan warned the officials concerned that any delay in the enumeration process would lead to disciplinary action by the government.

YSRCP claims

Meanwhile, representatives of political parties and some residents have alleged that the enumeration forms are not being distributed and are lying piled up at the local counters and ward secretariats.

YSRCP leaders further alleged that the names of minorities, scheduled castes and tribes were being systematically removed from the electoral roll.

They urged the ECI to intensify publicity about the SIR and create awareness about the Voter Helpline (1950) for registering grievances and complaints. Vizianagaram Zilla Parishad Chairman and YSRCP District President Majji Srinivasa Rao has asked all local leaders and activists to remain vigilant during the enumeration process as there is a possibility that names of YSRCP supporters and sympathizers may be removed/deleted.

Published – 06 Jul 2026 19:54 IST