Uttar Pradesh is witnessing a major political debate as the draft voter list for the state is set to be released. The final voter list will be published on March 6, following a voter verification process (SIR) initiated on November 4. According to reports, approximately 2.79 crore voter names are expected to be removed, while details of nearly 80 lakh individuals remain untraceable. The process has triggered strong reactions from political parties. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has criticized the exercise, calling it similar to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and raised concerns about potential voter suppression. Yadav argued that a significant portion of the names being deleted belong to BJP supporters, suggesting a partisan bias in the process. Meanwhile, the BJP has countered these claims, stating that the SIR process is conducted transparently under the Election Commission of India and that such allegations are politically motivated. The debate has intensified ahead of the upcoming elections, highlighting issues of electoral integrity, voter verification, and administrative accountability. Authorities continue to monitor the process closely, and political parties remain vocal about their concerns, ensuring that the draft voter list becomes a focal point of election-related discussions in Uttar Pradesh.


