Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar arrived in Odisha on Saturday for a significant three-day visit, marking a crucial step in the Election Commission's drive to ensure accurate voter lists ahead of upcoming polls. His itinerary is centered around reviewing the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state's electoral rolls, a process vital for a fair democratic exercise.
Core Mission: Streamlining Voter List Verification
The cornerstone of the CEC's visit is a scheduled meeting with approximately 800 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from Khurda and Cuttack districts on Monday. This interaction will take place at the OUAT auditorium in Bhubaneswar. BLOs, often termed the backbone of the electoral machinery, are responsible for grassroots verification. The meeting aims to assess preparedness, streamline field operations, and address challenges encountered during the door-to-door verification drive.
The SIR exercise, currently active in 12 states and Union Territories following a similar drive in Bihar, is a nationwide effort to purify voter lists. It involves eliminating duplicate entries, verifying voter credentials, updating demographic details, and removing names of deceased or relocated voters. For Odisha, which has 3.32 crore registered voters (1.68 crore men, 1.64 crore women) as per the 2024 final roll, this revision is particularly critical due to historical issues of duplication and migration from neighboring states.
Addressing Key Challenges: Duplication and Migration
Officials highlighted that the discussions during the CEC's visit are expected to prominently feature the persistent challenges of migration-related discrepancies and the identification of ineligible voters. A significant concern is the issue of infiltration and illegal migration, which complicates the maintenance of clean electoral rolls.
In a related context, state government data reveals that Odisha has officially identified 3,738 Bangladeshi infiltrators. The district of Kendrapada has the highest concentration with 1,649 individuals, followed by Jagatsinghpur and Balasore. This data underscores the complexity of ensuring that the voter list accurately reflects only the eligible electorate, a core objective of the EC's intensified campaign.
Cultural Immersion and Constitutional Resolve
Beyond official duties, CEC Gyanesh Kumar's visit also includes an immersion into Odisha's rich cultural heritage. On Saturday, he visited the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri and the Konark Sun Temple. After the temple visit, he expressed his belief that the blessings of Lord Jagannath would inspire him to fulfill his constitutional responsibilities with utmost sincerity and commitment.
His schedule for Sunday includes tours to the Raghurajpur heritage village, Dhauli Shanti Stupa, Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves, and the Mukteswar Temple. Kumar remarked on the unique significance of Odisha's art, literature, and culture, highlighting the personal and inspirational aspect of his official tour. The Election Commission has directed state authorities to complete the revision process before the next major electoral cycle, making this visit a key supervisory and motivational step in that direction.
