What the “13 crore” figure really represents
The BJP clarified that the opposition’s claim of “13 crore voters deleted” is misleading. Those names appear in the draft roll because they fall into categories such as deceased, migrated, long‑term absent, or duplicate entries. They remain in a provisional pool that can be contested through the claims‑and‑objections mechanism before any final deletion is effected.
Clarifying Form 6 and the revision workflow
Responding to fresh criticism of Form 6—the application used to seek inclusion in the electoral roll—the party noted that the core format has not changed. A new declaration clause has simply been added to simplify the filing process for voters. Moreover, the BJP emphasized that the election machinery continues to function through its established, decentralised structure, with state election officers retaining full legal authority.
It also pointed out that roughly 2.37 crore young electors have been added to the rolls since June 2025, underscoring that the revision exercise is a routine update rather than a mass purge.
The broader controversy around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
The Special Intensive Revision has turned into a flashpoint in parliamentary debate. Opposition parties argue that the sheer volume of names missing from the draft rolls signals systematic exclusion, while the Election Commission has launched remedial drives in states where the exercise is complete to enrol any eligible citizens who may have been left out.
“‘Flagged’ names in the draft stage are not the same as ‘deleted’ names in the final roll,” the BJP said, adding that the ongoing claims‑and‑objections period will ultimately decide which entries survive verification.
In short, the controversy hinges on terminology and procedure, not on an intentional voter‑purge.
