Oppn must form Joint Action Committee to ensure fair SIR in Maharashtra, says SP MLA Rais Shaikh

MUMBAI: Samajwadi Party's Bhiwandi East MLA Rais Shaikh has called for the immediate formation of a Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising all opposition parties to monitor and ensure transparency and fairness in the proposed "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) process in Maharashtra.

An urgent meeting should be convened during the ongoing budget session of the legislature to hold a detailed discussion on the issue and finalize a concrete action plan, said Shaikh.


In his letter to state Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal, NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Shaikh emphasized the need for coordinated action to ensure transparency and fairness in the implementation of the SIR process.

"During the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, there is a possibility of serious irregularities during its execution. The names of minority communities, marginalized sections, and other ordinary citizens could be unlawfully removed from the voters’ list," said Shaikh.

Citing past instances where similar complaints had surfaced in different regions, MLA Rais Shaikh stressed that ensuring transparency, legal accuracy, and justice in the SIR process is essential.

"Therefore, a JAC of all opposition parties should be constituted without delay. The committee should oversee the SIR process, collect complaints, initiate necessary legal steps, and provide continuous guidance to party workers and local leadership.

An urgent meeting should be convened during the ongoing Budget Session of the Legislature to hold a detailed discussion on the issue and finalize a concrete action plan," said Shaikh.

Shaikh outlined key measures that should be considered, including establishing a monitoring mechanism to prevent the arbitrary deletion of names from electoral rolls, guiding workers in every constituency, informing citizens about their rights, providing legal assistance where required, and conducting a legal review of the entire process to ensure it is carried out in accordance with rules and in a transparent manner.

The BJP recently formed a committee to monitor the SIR in the state and named Kirit Somaiya on the committee along with other netas.