By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 27: The National People’s Party (NPP), Meghalaya unit, has expressed serious concern over the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, urging election authorities to take into account local administrative realities and avoid inconvenience to genuine voters.
In a letter addressed to Chief Electoral Officer BDR Tiwari, NPP general secretary (administration, organisation & election) Don Kupar War raised multiple issues relating to documentation requirements, the scheduling of the exercise and coordination with other major administrative activities.
Referring to reports that the SIR has already been announced by the Election Commission of India, War said the party had earlier met the CEO and conveyed its concerns, which are yet to be addressed.
The NPP pointed out that Meghalaya, being a Sixth Schedule state, does not have Panchayati Raj institutions, and therefore traditional local authorities play a key role in certifying residency.
The party stated that certificates issued by Dorbar Shnong authorities, Nokmas and other recognised traditional institutions should be accepted as valid documents during the SIR process to prevent the exclusion of legitimate electors.
The party also observed that many citizens, particularly those aged 40 years and above, may not possess birth certificates issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths. In such cases, War suggested that alternative documents such as baptism certificates and community-issued certificates should be considered by the authorities.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with the CEO, War said the party had received information that the SIR exercise may be conducted in April 2026 in Meghalaya, alongside other major administrative and electoral activities.
He stated that the period is likely to coincide with the Census exercise as well as the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), which could create administrative pressure and logistical challenges.
War further noted that the Election Commission may also announce a by-election to the Lok Sabha from the Shillong Parliamentary Constituency following the demise of former MP Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon. He said the overlap of multiple exercises could strain both manpower and resources.
“Several major processes are likely to take place simultaneously, which may lead to operational difficulties. The SIR should therefore be conducted in a manner that does not clash with other administrative or electoral responsibilities,” War stated.
The NPP also brought up its earlier concern regarding the scheduling of the exercise during months when schools conduct final examinations, noting that a large number of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are schoolteachers. The party warned that conducting the SIR during examination periods could affect academic activities as well as the quality of field verification.
War maintained that while the objective of the SIR is to purify electoral rolls, the process should not result in the harassment of vulnerable sections, particularly in rural areas where documentation levels are comparatively low.
Urging the CEO to take up the matter with the Election Commission of India, War said the SIR exercise should be implemented only after ensuring flexibility in documentation and scheduling.
War also reiterated the party’s demand that documents issued by recognised local authorities, including traditional heads and community institutions, must be accepted to ensure that genuine residents are not left out of the electoral rolls.
