IMPHAL, July 30: The Election Department of Manipur has commenced preparations for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s photo electoral rolls, with training sessions for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and consultations with political parties currently underway. The revision aligns with the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) broader initiative, which is already being implemented in states like Bihar, though no official timeline has yet been issued for Manipur.

According to a report by The Hindu, Joint Chief Electoral Officer (JCEO) of Manipur, Ramananda Nongmeikapam, confirmed that the state is acting in accordance with ECI’s proposal. “This is in keeping with the SIR preparation underway across several other states. In Bihar, this exercise is already underway. The preparation here is as per the ECI’s proposal to hold SIR across the country. So far, no communication has been given on specific timelines for this exercise in Manipur,” he told The Hindu.

Notices issued by District Election Officers across Manipur refer to the “ensuing Special Intensive Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls with respect to January 1, 2026, as the qualifying date.” For instance, a notification from Kakching district noted that meetings would cover the SIR process, house-to-house surveys, and the rationalisation of polling stations under pre-revision activities.

On July 25, a meeting chaired by the JCEO in Imphal brought together election officials and political representatives. According to the poll body, “The participating parties were sensitised about the ECI’s proposal to conduct a Special Intensive Revision across the country, aimed at safeguarding the integrity and accuracy of our democratic process.”

However, concerns have emerged about the implications of the exercise, particularly regarding internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are still residing in relief camps due to the ongoing ethnic unrest in the state. Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Keisham Meghachandra, who attended the July 25 meeting, voiced opposition to any move to alter the voting addresses of displaced individuals to temporary camp locations.

Meghachandra warned that any irregularities in the process could damage public trust. “We made it clear at the July 25 meeting that the process should be fair. There should not be any attempt to add bogus voters either. Even Home Minister Amit Shah and former CM N. Biren Singh have spoken about illegal immigration in the State.”

According to official posts from the CEO, Manipur, training sessions for BLOs and their supervisors, as well as meetings with political parties, have already taken place across several Assembly constituencies, including Khangabok, Phungyar, Lamlai, Heirok, Noney, and Ukhrul.

Elsewhere in the Northeast, the Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland has also conducted training sessions in July on BLO responsibilities specific to the Special Intensive Revision, according to a release from the Department of Information and Public Relations of Nagaland.