Akhilesh Yadav flags ‘irregularities’ in SIR, accuses Election Commission of bias

Overview On January 24, 2026 , Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav questioned the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh . He alleged irregularities and accused the Election Commission of failing to ensure impartiality during the process. Key Developments Allegations of Irregularities Akhilesh Yadav stated that reports of irregularities related to the SIR exercise were continuously surfacing. He recalled that when the Election Commission announced the revision on November 4, 2025 , it promised to ensure that "no deficiency remains in the voters' list" and assured that the process would make the electoral rolls "pure and inclusive". Kannauj Sadar Assembly: Yadav cited discrepancies found in this constituency, part of his Lok Sabha seat, as an example of broader issues. Collusion Allegations: He alleged that officials were working in collusion with the government. Impartiality Concerns: Yadav claimed the Election Commission , a constitutional body, was no longer acting impartially. Bypoll Issues During recent bypolls, Yadav alleged that "votes were looted at the booths". He claimed that while CCTV footage existed, the Election Commission decided not to provide it to any political party. Weakening the Opposition Yadav further alleged that the SIR exercise was being used as a tool to weaken the opposition. He claimed that "several conspiracies and manipulations are being carried out to weaken the opposition, and the BJP government is preparing for it". Timeline Extensions Yadav also questioned the repeated extensions of the SIR timeline, suggesting a lack of preparedness. He asked what technology and technical experts were being used for the exercise. UPSC Relevance This news is relevant to GS2: Polity and Governance , specifically concerning the role and functioning of the Election Commission of India , electoral processes, and issues related to free and fair elections. It also touches upon the importance of maintaining the integrity of electoral rolls and addressing allegations of bias or manipulation. Important Facts Date of Press Conference: January 24, 2026 Party Involved: Samajwadi Party Person Involved: Akhilesh Yadav Election Commission Announcement: November 4, 2025 Issue: Alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls