Arvind Kejriwal: Former Delhi CM and Family Receive SIR Notices Over Voter List Discrepancies

The political landscape in Delhi is witnessing a significant development as the former Chief Minister and National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, Arvind Kejriwal, along with four members of his family, has come under the scanner of the Election Commission. A notice has been issued to them as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the national capital. This move has sparked widespread discussion regarding the status of their voting rights and the technicalities involved in the electoral roll update process. The notice highlights the rigorous nature of the current verification drive being conducted across the city to ensure a clean and accurate database of voters.

Family Members Named in the Notice

The notice issued by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi specifically mentions five individuals from the Kejriwal household. Apart from Arvind Kejriwal himself, the list includes his wife Sunita Kejriwal, his son Pulkit Kejriwal, and his parents, Govind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi. The issuance of these notices to such high-profile individuals underscores the fact that the Election Commission's verification process is being applied uniformly across all sections of society. The family members are now required to address the discrepancies identified by the authorities to ensure their names remain on the electoral roll.

The Unmapped with Last SIR Category

All the notices issued to the Kejriwal family fall under the specific category of Unmapped with Last SIR. This classification indicates that the details of these voters couldn't be successfully mapped or matched with the data from the previous Special Intensive Revision cycle. During the process of digital mapping, certain logical discrepancies were identified by the system. The Election Commission has taken a firm stance on this matter, stating that verbal assurances won't suffice and that the issues must be resolved through proper documentation. This has led to questions about whether Arvind Kejriwal and his family members might face the risk of having their names removed from the voter list if the discrepancies aren't cleared.

Breakdown of the Draft Voter List

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Delhi has produced a comprehensive draft voter list which was released on 31 August. According to the data provided, the total number of registered voters in the draft list stands at 97,53,577. A detailed look at the demographics reveals that there are 49,88,993 male voters and 47,64,137 female voters. On top of that, the list includes 447 voters from the third gender category. These figures represent the baseline for the current revision process, which aims to identify and rectify any errors or outdated information in the system.

The ASDU Category and Verification Findings

Following a thorough door-to-door verification process conducted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), a significant number of voters have been placed under the ASDU category. This category stands for Absent, Shifted, Dead, and Duplicate voters. Out of the total verification, 47,56,722 voters have been categorized under ASDU. The breakdown of this figure is quite revealing: 43,32,775 voters were found to be permanently shifted or absent from their registered addresses. On top of that, 2,82,412 voters were identified as deceased, and 1,41,535 voters were found to be registered in more than one location or were identified as duplicate entries. These findings are crucial for the Election Commission to maintain the integrity of the democratic process.

Election Commission's Stance on Transparency

The Election Commission has clarified that the issuance of notices is a standard procedure for voters whose details don't match the previous records or where logical inconsistencies have been detected. In total, 31,63,930 such notices have been prepared and are being distributed across Delhi. The Commission has emphasized that the entire process is completely transparent and is designed to ensure that no eligible citizen is left out of the voter list. The primary goal is to eliminate errors and ensure that only valid and verified voters are included in the final roll. The settlement of these notices and the resolution of discrepancies are scheduled to be completed by 29 October 2026.

Deadlines and Future Procedures

For citizens who find that their names are missing from the list or who need to file a claim, the Election Commission has provided a clear roadmap. Eligible citizens can submit their claims using Form-6 until 30 September. To facilitate this, special camps are being organized to assist the public in the registration and verification process. The final voter list, incorporating all the revisions and corrections, is scheduled to be published on 4 November 2026. This timeline provides ample opportunity for voters, including the Kejriwal family, to provide the necessary documentation and ensure their participation in future elections.