Agartala: Former Tripura Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar on Saturday asserted that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which is scheduled to be carried out shortly in the state, should not adversely affect the voting rights of eligible voters.
Sarkar was speaking to the media a day after the Election Department of Tripura announced that the SIR exercise would be carried out from September 5, 2026.
According to Sarkar, there have been instances where the SIR exercise was used as a tool to harass eligible voters in other states. “I have only one thing to say: The voters who had been able to cast their votes in the previous elections shouldn’t have their names deleted from the electoral rolls. At the same time, the voters who have attained the desired age to exercise their adult franchise must have their names enrolled in the electoral rolls. The elderly and young voters should not be deprived of their right to cast their votes. It should be kept in mind,” said Sarkar.
Stating that attempts were made to remove the names of voters belonging to certain sections of society through SIR in other states, Sarkar said, “We have noticed that efforts were made to disenfranchise people from religious minorities, SC and poor backgrounds in other states. Especially in Bihar and West Bengal are glaring examples. I would like to request the officials of the election department to act independently rising above all sorts of criticism. All political parties and their workers should also be equally cautious about the exercise.”
He also spoke about how married daughters might face difficulties. “Married daughters move to their in-laws’ house after marriage. Previously they might have voted from their parental home but now their polling station and area of voting shall change. The election department must take extra care in handling these cases and ensure that each and every voter gets the fair opportunity to vote,” said Sarkar.
On being asked about concerns raised by several quarters regarding inflated electricity bills, Sarkar said, “Electricity should not be treated in isolation. Education, health, electricity, purchasing power, livelihood opportunities and means of survival. Everything is at stake. Almost everyday, we are encountering cases of inflated power bills. The manner in which all these dubious activities are being carried out, it is not less than a loot.”
According to Sarkar, Tripura was a power-surplus state when the Left Front was in power. “When the Left Front was in power, Tripura emerged as one of the few states in the country that were power surplus. Power generated in our state was supplied to other North Eastern states. The central government approached us for power once upon a time. Contrary to that, today not only our state couldn’t manage to increase its generation capacity, in fact, it recorded a fall. The minister does not hesitate to make tall claims. The same minister is participating in the planting of paddy saplings. If that is the case, he should also make efforts to fix power lines and install poles,” said Sarkar.