A sweeping revision of India’s electoral rolls has triggered widespread protests and legal challenges across the country, amid concerns that the exercise has led to the disenfranchisement of millions of eligible voters, particularly from Muslim and other minority communities.

Since last year, approximately 130 million names have been removed from India’s voter lists as part of a process called special intensive revision (SIR), overseen by the Election Commission. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi describes SIR as a necessary measure to eliminate duplicate and deceased voters and to ensure the accuracy of the rolls ahead of upcoming elections.

However, critics, including opposition parties and civil society groups, argue that the purge disproportionately affects Muslims, lower caste groups, and marginalized communities, many of whom are perceived as opponents of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They contend that SIR is being used to exclude legitimate voters under the pretext of removing illegal immigrants. Protestors in major cities have called for the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the commission has overstepped its authority and effectively assumed the role of adjudicating citizenship, a responsibility constitutionally reserved for other bodies.

The controversy escalated in states such as Bihar and West Bengal, where the BJP has recently consolidated power. In West Bengal, where the BJP initiated a crackdown on purported illegal immigrants, several Muslims removed from the voter lists have reportedly faced police action. Among them is Shahida Fakir, a 38-year-old migrant worker from West Bengal who was excluded from the electoral roll despite presenting extensive documentation proving her Indian citizenship, including birth and land records dating back to 1962. While contesting her exclusion, Fakir was detained and subsequently deported to Bangladesh—a country she says she has no ties to. Border officials in Bangladesh have acknowledged her Indian citizenship. Her family has petitioned India’s Supreme Court to challenge the deportation, with the government given a deadline to respond.

The roots of the current dispute trace back to a 2023 reform by the Modi administration that altered the appointment process of the Election Commission, granting the government majority control for the first time. Soon after, Gyanesh Kumar was appointed despite opposition resistance. The commission initiated SIR in Bihar, where over six million names were removed. Critics highlight the timing of this purge preceding the BJP’s substantial victory in the Bihar state elections.

The BJP denies any political manipulation of the voter list revision, attributing allegations to opposition jealousy fueled by recent electoral setbacks. Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi has characterized the claims as attempts to sow division and unrest, emphasizing that affected voters can re-enroll through standard procedures.

Nonetheless, the Election Commission has acknowledged some shortcomings in the process, recently imposing limits on the number of deletion requests individuals can submit after reports emerged of mass objections targeting Muslim voters. Public frustration remains high, with many citizens, such as Delhi resident Prashant Tandon, expressing disbelief at facing challenges to their citizenship and voting rights without clear evidence.

As protests grow and legal battles unfold, the voter roll revision exercise remains at the center of a national debate over electoral integrity, citizenship, and the rights of India’s diverse population.