Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday, 16 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s newly launched Special Summary Revision (SSR) exercise, asserting that it had rendered the earlier Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive 'null and void.' Speaking at a public gathering in Lucknow, Yadav accused the poll body of colluding with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to facilitate what he called 'vote chori' — or vote theft.

What Akhilesh Said

'SIR has become zero because SSR has arrived. Isn't that correct? If the SSR exercise is being conducted, then SIR has become zero now,' Akhilesh Yadav alleged before his audience. The SP chief went on to present what he described as a young voter found to have multiple registrations across different districts, using the case to question the efficacy of the revision exercise.

'This young man did not even know how many voter registrations existed in his name. He applied for only one. Look at the gift that the BJP has given him by colluding with the Election Commission,' Yadav said, alleging coordinated manipulation between the ruling party and the constitutional body.

What the EC's SSR Drive Entails

The ECI rolled out the SSR exercise on Thursday, issuing a formal notification that directed the special revision of electoral rolls across 17 states and Union Territories. Notably, for the first time, the Commission also mandated the sharing of 'machine-readable' PDF versions of voter lists with recognised political parties — a demand that had long been pending from multiple parties across the political spectrum.

Under the SSR framework, an annual exercise, applicants seeking to enrol as new voters or update their details are not required to submit citizenship documents or be mapped against previous electoral rolls. The SSR drive covers states and UTs where elections have already been completed and where polling is scheduled next year, according to EC officials.

The SIR Controversy in the Background

The SP chief's remarks come in the context of the earlier SIR drive, which had been conducted across poll-bound states. Yadav alleged that irregularities caught during the SIR were dismissed by the Commission as 'minor mistakes.' He rejected that characterisation, calling the lapses 'a conspiracy and plot to loot the mandate of people.'

'The protest is taking place because their theft is being exposed and their actions are being uncovered. Why are they trying to steal votes? Why are they engaging in theft, conspiracies and manipulation through SIR or SSR?' Yadav said, sharpening his attack on both the ECI and the BJP.

Significance of Machine-Readable Voter Lists

The ECI's new directive on machine-readable PDF electoral rolls marks a meaningful procedural shift. Previously, voter lists were shared in image format, limiting political parties' ability to analyse and cross-check data. The move to machine-readable formats was a longstanding demand and could enhance transparency — though critics like the SP argue the broader revision exercise remains suspect.

What Happens Next

The SSR exercise is now underway across 17 states and UTs, with results expected to feed into updated electoral rolls ahead of elections scheduled in those states next year. The opposition's scrutiny of the process is likely to intensify as results from the drive become available. Whether the ECI responds formally to Yadav's allegations remains to be seen.