New Delhi: The Election Commission will conduct phase two of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced on Monday, PTI reported.
However, Gyanesh Kumar informed that Aadhaar is no proof of date of birth or domicile. Aadhaar is no proof for citizenship as well, but could be furnished as identity proof during the SIR exercise, the CEC said.
He said the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) is the ninth such exercise since Independence, with the last one happening in 2002-04.
Kumar said the first phase of the SIR was completed in Bihar with zero appeals.
"The second phase will be conducted in 12 states and Union Territories. SIR will ensure no eligible elector is left out and no ineligible elector is included in poll rolls," Kumar said at a press conference.
The voters' list cleanup exercise has been concluded in Bihar with the final list with nearly 7.42 crore electors published on September 30. Polling in the state will be held in two phases -- on November 6 and November 11 -- and the counting will take place on November 14.
The Election Commission has already held two conferences with state chief electoral officers (CEOs) to firm up the SIR rollout roadmap. Several CEOs have already put the voter lists after their last SIR on their websites.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Dr Shashi Panja on Monday strongly criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, describing it as politically motivated and "a backdoor entry for the NRC."
Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading misinformation and meddling in the affairs of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Panja said the ruling party was attempting to manipulate the process under the guise of electoral reform.