Sun Dec 28 16:32:57 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) electoral roll is undergoing a significant revision. A draft list, to be published December 31st, 2025, is expected to contain approximately 12.55 crore voters. A substantial 2.89 crore names have been removed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process due to reasons like death, relocation, or duplicate registration. A considerable number of voters (over 1 crore) on the draft list are in an “unmapped” category and will be required to submit documentation to verify their information. The deletion of so many names has sparked political controversy, with opposition parties alleging the revision favors the ruling BJP party, accusations the BJP denies. Voters who have been removed can contest the deletion starting January 1st.
News Article:
UP Electoral Roll to Shrink by Nearly 3 Crore Amidst Controversy
Lucknow, December 28, 2025 – A massive revision of Uttar Pradesh’s electoral rolls is set to drastically reduce the number of registered voters, igniting a political firestorm in India’s most populous state. The draft electoral roll, scheduled for release on December 31st, is expected to list approximately 12.55 crore voters, a significant decrease from the pre-revision figure due to the deletion of almost 2.89 crore names.
According to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa, the deletions are primarily due to factors such as death, change of residence, and duplicate registrations. However, the sheer scale of the removals has raised eyebrows, particularly amongst opposition parties.
“Starting January 1st, those whose names have been removed will have a month to reapply and contest the deletion by filling out Form 6,” Rinwa stated. “New voters can also use this form to register.”
In addition, over 1 crore voters included in the draft list are currently classified as “unmapped.” These voters will receive notices requiring them to submit self-attested documents (from a list of 12 mandated by the ECI) to verify their information. Failure to do so could result in their removal from the final electoral roll.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR), themed “Clean Electoral Roll – Strong Democracy,” began on November 4th and concluded on December 26th after two extensions. The majority of deletions were reported in major urban centers such as Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, and Kanpur.
The deletion of nearly 3 crore names, representing roughly 18.7% of the previous voter base, has triggered heated accusations from opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Congress. They allege the SIR process is politically motivated and designed to favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has vehemently denied these claims, dismissing them as baseless attempts to protect “intruders.”
“The opposition’s claims are bogus and intended to shield illegal voters,” a BJP spokesperson stated.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) will also invite objections to the inclusion of names on the draft roll between January 1st and 31st. This entire process continues into February, with the ECI continuing to send notices to voters who are required to furnish documents.
The final electoral roll is expected to be published following the resolution of objections and verification of “unmapped” voters. The significantly reduced voter list is likely to have major implications for future elections in Uttar Pradesh, and the political debate surrounding the revision shows no signs of abating.
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