The voter registration mapping initiative currently underway in Pune district, as part of the pre-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) efforts, is approximately 36% complete, according to Deputy District Election Officer Minal Kalaskar in a statement to The Indian Express on Friday. Kalaskar anticipates that the overall mapping will reach between 60% and 70% by the completion of the process.
This SIR mapping process entails Block Level Officers (BLOs) reviewing the existing voter list against the records compiled by the Election Commission in 2002. For voters to be verified, their names must appear on the 2002 list. A substantial portion of the unmapped voters—estimated at 30% to 40%—includes young voters whose names were not included in the 2002 list, as well as those who have passed away or relocated. Young voters will need to provide evidence that their parents’ names were on the 2002 list to be eligible.
While the State Election Commission has yet to announce the official dates for the SIR within the state, preparatory work for the initiative has already commenced. The SIR will primarily be conducted online, supplemented by camps and home visits to facilitate the process.
This SIR initiative has generated controversy in other states, notably West Bengal, where it is being implemented shortly before elections. In West Bengal, approximately 89 lakh individuals have been removed from the voter rolls, with 27 lakh names currently undergoing review. Despite ongoing legal challenges to the SIR in the Supreme Court, those who have been removed will not be permitted to vote in the upcoming elections.
Previously, The Indian Express reported that Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer, S. Chockalingam, expressed concerns in November 2025 regarding the tight timeline for the SIR exercise, requesting additional time for its completion. Political factions, including the Congress Party in Maharashtra, have echoed these sentiments, advocating for a more measured approach to the SIR process given that no elections are scheduled in the near future.
Congress state president Harshwardhan Sapkal remarked, “With no elections on the horizon for the next two to three years, extending the timeline for this process to one-and-a-half to two years should not be an issue. Allowing sufficient time will help build public trust in the integrity of the process.”
Soham Shah serves as a Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Pune. A graduate in journalism with a strong background in fact-checking, he adopts a thorough and research-driven approach in his reporting.
Professional Background:
Role: Correspondent covering education and urban affairs in Pune.
Specialization: Although primarily focused on education, he also emphasizes civic issues, public health, human rights, and state-level politics.
Key Strength: Soham is dedicated to data-informed reporting on educational institutions, government findings, and public infrastructure.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025):
His late 2025 articles reflect a shift from education-centric topics to impactful investigative and human rights narratives:
- Investigations & Governance:
- “Express Impact: Mother’s name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site” (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy amendment by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in response to prior concerns about gender inclusivity in administrative records.
- “44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest” (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative examination of real estate discrepancies involving prominent political families.
- Education & Campus Life:
- “Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts” (Sept 12, 2025): A thorough investigation into faculty shortages at Savitribai Phule Pune University.
- “Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6” (July 2): An analysis of the contentious introduction of a third language requirement from Class 1.
- “Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report” (Jan 2025): A study of inconsistencies in the state’s education statistics amidst rising student enrollment.
- Human Rights & Social Issues:
- “Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend” (Dec 17, 2025): A poignant opinion piece addressing the “crime of love” and honor killings in contemporary India.
- “‘People disrespect the disabled’: Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians” (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident facing severe physical challenges who became a target of widespread online harassment, shedding light on issues of disability and cyberbullying.
Signature Style:
Soham is recognized for his focus on civil liberties, often advocating for the rights of marginalized groups—be it students seeking democratic representation on campuses, victims of regressive social practices, or residents confronting deteriorating urban conditions, as seen in his “Breathless Pune” contributions. He skillfully connects local Pune issues to broader national discussions regarding law and rights.
X (Twitter): @SohamShah07
