SIR’s initial phase in UP nears completion, CM Yogi hits the ground to review progress

The Chief Minister, who held SIR-related review meetings at the party’s divisional level in Aligarh on Sunday, visited Moradabad, Ghaziabad and Agra on Monday, officials said.

He would be covering at least three more divisions on Tuesday, they added.

At these meetings, the MPs, MLAs, MLCs, as well as BJP office-bearers and divisional in-charges are being called for a review with the CM.

He asked them about last-minute hitches, if any, and directed that no eligible person is left out and no fake entries are allowed into the system.

BJP’s Aligarh district president Rajeev Sharma said public representatives of the party and office bearers from Aligarh, Hathras, Etah and Kansganj were called for a meeting with the Chief Minister on Sunday.

“Maharaj ji (Yogi Adityanath) is going to every division and his presence would certainly enthuse workers, who are already working at the booth level, to ensure no eligible person is left out and no ineligible person is able to make it to the list. Many see that the exercise is nearing a close on November 11… but the fact is that it would continue for a more month as this would just be the first draft. After this, we will carry out verification of voters who have been left out.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, BJP Aligarh City President Krishnapal Singh said, “He [the CM] asked if we were facing any issues and directed us to ensure that no eligible person is left out. We have already ensured that no fake person is able to make it to the list, at least from our region. We have understood the instructions and will work accordingly.”

Singh added that almost 98% of the work under him is almost complete. The biggest task that remains, he said, is the identification and inclusion of those currently residing outside the area who were left out of the exercise.

A party leader, who was part of the review meeting with the CM in Moradabad, said special focus is on Vidhan Sabha constituencies where the victory or loss margin has been less than 10,000. Sources said the slow progress in some seats, like in Sambhal, was pointed out and directions were given to deploy more workers to ensure those eligible are included.

While the CM’s review is limited to party representatives and office-bearers, sources said his ground visit has also put the administration on alert in the districts he is visiting.

“The CM highlighted the vital role of Booth Level Agents (BLAs), stating that the SIR is not just an administrative exercise but an organisational responsibility as well. He urged BLAs, booth workers, and office-bearers to engage directly with voters and form teams at each booth to conduct detailed verification,” officials informed.

Senior party leaders and ministers in the government including Deputy Chief Ministers Brajesh Pathak, Keshav Prasad Maurya, State President Bhupendra Chaudhary are already participating in monitoring the exercise at the grassroots.

The move comes less than a week after BJP’s National General Secretary, Organisation, B L Santosh, as well as RSS senior functionaries held a meeting with the Chief Minister and Deputy CMs at the Chief Minister’s residence in Lucknow, discussing various issues.

Sources said with the Chief Minister personally monitoring the exercise, it would help find a solution on the spot for issues raised by the cadre.