Party urges extra time to complete voter list digitisation in urban seats

Facing a lag in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) effort, the Jharkhand Congress has called on the Election Commission to grant an additional fifteen days for the enumeration phase. The party argues that slow progress in major city constituencies could lead to the disenfranchisement of many eligible voters.

Data presented by Congress officials show that, as of early July, digitisation rates remain under 12% in all surveyed urban areas: Ranchi (4.14%), Hatia (8.48%), Dhanbad (4.78%), Jharia (5.96%) and Bokaro (11.56%). The party fears that without an extension, a substantial number of citizens will be left off the final electoral roll.

The request was submitted through the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, with Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Subodh Kumar receiving the document on behalf of Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar, who was unavailable at the time. The delegation included state general secretaries Sunil Shukla, Lal Kishor Nath Shahdev and Sanjay Kumar.

Congress proposes moving the enumeration cut‑off from July 29 to August 13, a change it says will help secure a complete and unbiased voter roll ahead of upcoming elections.