ECI clears the air; no irregularities found in electoral roll, Sikkim among states with zero complaints

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has stated that recent claims about irregularities in the electoral roll are baseless. In a press statement released from New Delhi on April 21, the ECI clarified that there have been no valid complaints or appeals received during the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of Electoral Rolls that concluded in January 2025.

According to the Commission, the revision process was carried out in a fair and transparent manner across the country, including in Sikkim. The ECI highlighted that after the SSR published on January 6th and 7th this year, no first or second-level appeals were made under Section 24, which allows people to correct or raise objections to entries under Sections 22 and 23 of the Representation of the People Act.

In Sikkim’s case, the data clearly shows that there were zero appeals received either at the district or state level. This indicates that the electoral process in the state was conducted smoothly and without any major issues. The final electoral roll in Sikkim stands at 4,69,925 voters. The revision involved 573 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from the state government and 822 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties. Despite the active involvement of these representatives, no formal objections were raised.

This is in line with the broader national trend. The ECI has shared that nearly 10.5 lakh polling booths across the country took part in the SSR, with the help of more than 13.87 lakh BLAs appointed by various political parties. The revision covered all 4,123 Assembly Constituencies in India.

The Commission also included detailed data in its March 7 press note showing that states like Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh had no appeals during or after the SSR. This reflects the overall satisfaction of voters and political parties with the revision process.

The ECI’s statement is seen as a strong reply to allegations made by certain individuals and groups who had claimed that the electoral roll was flawed. The Commission has now made it clear that the published electoral rolls are to be treated as final and undisputed.

In Sikkim, voters have long shown trust in the election system and the absence of complaints during the SSR only strengthens this confidence.