The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the extension of the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to 12 more states and Union Territories including West Bengal, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Four of the states, where the SIR will be conducted in the second phase, are scheduled to go to polls next year. However, Assam, a BJP-ruled northeastern state that will also hold elections next year, was not among them.

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar explained that a separate order for the SIR in Assam would be issued later, as the state is governed by special provisions under the Citizenship Act.

“Under India’s Citizenship Act, there are separate provisions for Assam. Under the supervision of the Supreme Court, the veri

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