The Editors Guild of India, which represents journalists across the country, has criticised the difficulties faced by former newspaper editor R. Rajagopal after authorities removed his name from the electoral roll.
The organisation said the case raises concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists and warned that many ordinary citizens could face similar problems.
Former Editor Challenges Electoral Roll Removal
R. Rajagopal, a former editor of The Telegraph, said officials removed his name from the electoral roll in West Bengal during the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision.
Passport Renewal Delayed
Rajagopal said the removal also affected the renewal of his passport. According to him, officials could not complete the required police verification because his name no longer appeared on the electoral roll.
What Is the Special Intensive Revision?
The Election Commission of India launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to identify and remove people who are not eligible to vote.
Critics argue that the exercise has mistakenly removed many eligible voters. However, the Election Commission says it is following the proper rules and procedures. read more
Editors Guild Expresses Concern
Impact on Ordinary Citizens
The Editors Guild of India said Rajagopal’s experience highlights the difficulties many people may face because of the voter list revision.
The organisation added that if a well-known journalist can lose his voting rights, ordinary citizens with fewer resources could face even greater challenges.
Millions of Voters Removed
The Election Commission began the Special Intensive Revision on 4 November 2025 across 12 states and union territories.
West Bengal Among the Hardest Hit
Authorities removed around 60 million names from electoral rolls nationwide, including about nine million names in West Bengal.
Rajagopal is among the many people who have challenged the decision in court.
Election officials have also started another phase of the revision across 16 states and three union territories.
Why Was Rajagopal’s Name Removed?
In an article published by The Wire, Rajagopal said he has lived in Kolkata’s Ballygunge constituency for more than 25 years.
Verification Based on 2002 Electoral Rolls
Officials reportedly removed his name because they could not find either his name or his father’s name in the 2002 electoral rolls used for verification.
Rajagopal said he has been a registered voter since 2010 and served as editor of The Telegraph for seven years.
He also said he submitted his school certificate, but officials did not explain why they removed his name. His appeal is currently pending before a tribunal. know more
Passport Renewal Dispute
Rajagopal said authorities informed him that they could not complete the police verification required for his passport renewal because his name had been removed from the electoral roll.
Questions Over Passport Rules
He questioned the decision, saying he could not find any official rule that makes a voter identity card a mandatory document for passport renewal.
Support Grows for Rajagopal
Journalists and Political Leaders React
Rajagopal’s case has attracted widespread attention on social media, with journalists, politicians and public figures expressing support.
Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said the situation shows that such problems could happen to anyone.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged that Rajagopal is facing consequences for his journalism.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary M. A. Baby also criticised the voter list revision, saying his party had warned that it could deprive poor and vulnerable citizens of their voting rights. He said Rajagopal’s case reinforces those concerns.
