Editors Guild criticizes removal of voting rights from former newspaper editor

A journalists' organization in India condemned the removal of voting and passport rights from a former editor after his name was deleted from electoral rolls during a voter list revision. The Editors Guild of India issued a statement on Sunday saying the case of R Rajagopal, former editor of The Telegraph newspaper, highlights problems caused by the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

The group said if an influential public figure could lose voting rights, ordinary citizens would likely face greater difficulties. Rajagopal wrote in an article that his name was removed because it did not appear in 2002 electoral rolls, despite living in the same constituency for more than 25 years and voting since 2010.

He said authorities later told him police verification for his passport renewal could not be completed because his name had been removed from the electoral roll.

Background of the revision exercise The Special Intensive Revision began on 4 November 2025 across 12 states and federally administered territories. About 60 million names have been removed from electoral rolls, including nine million in West Bengal.

The Election Commission of India has stated the exercise aims to identify ineligible voters. Critics say millions of eligible voters have been wrongly removed. Rajagopal is among thousands who have appealed the decision in court. Another phase of the exercise is under way in 16 states and three federally administered territories.

The Editors Guild said Rajagopal's case shows the difficulties faced by ordinary citizens when influential figures encounter such problems.