The Wire Editor Denied Vote and Passport After Mass Voter Roll Purge
The Editors Guild of India has fiercely criticized the denial of voting and passport rights to R Rajagopal, a former editor at The Telegraph, following a controversial voter list revision process.
The Incident
Rajagopal’s name was removed from electoral rolls in West Bengal during a nationwide exercise called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This process, which verifies current voter records against 2002 rolls, has led to the removal of approximately 60 million names across India.
Rajagopal reports that his passport renewal was blocked specifically due to the loss of his voter registration. Despite submitting a matriculation certificate to prove his identity, he alleges he was given no reason for the removal. His appeal is currently pending before a tribunal.
The Editors Guild of India stated: "If an influential figure like Rajagopal can be disenfranchised, ordinary citizens likely face worse."
The Broader Context
The SIR exercise, which began on 4 November 2025 across 12 states and federally administered territories, has seen 9 million names removed in West Bengal alone. Critics argue the process wrongly targets eligible voters, a claim the Election Commission of India (ECI) firmly rejects.
A second phase of the revision is currently ongoing in 16 states and three federally administered territories.
Reactions and Responses
- Rajagopal published his account on the news website The Wire.
- Social media solidarity: Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai expressed support, while Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged Rajagopal is being targeted for his journalism.
- Political response: Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader MA Baby stated the exercise systematically disenfranchises the poor.
The ECI has not publicly responded to Rajagopal's specific case. The BBC has sought comment from the commission.
Neutral Statement: This situation highlights ongoing and serious disputes over the SIR process in India, raising fundamental questions about voter rights and due process.