70 lakh voters deleted unjustifiably in SIR: Bhalla

Economist Surjit Bhalla estimates ~70 lakh eligible voters were deleted without explanation during the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision. Of 13.37 crore total deletions, most were justified — deceased, relocated, duplicate, or untraceable voters, he said. Bhalla flagged concerns over SIR's speed and documentation burden on poor and migrant voters, especially in West Bengal.