Kerala's Political Storm: Opposing SIR of Voter Lists

In Kerala, political tensions are rising as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced plans for an all-party meeting to counter the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The initiative, described as hasty, is seen as a threat to India's democratic process.

The Kerala Chief Electoral Officer, Rathan U Kelkar, aims to assuage fears, stating that the SIR's purpose is to maintain a pure electoral roll by accurately including all eligible voters and excluding the ineligible. He emphasizes that political parties' concerns are addressable through weekly consultations.

The controversy grows as local elections approach. With numerous concerns about resource strains during the election period, the state urges the nomination of additional booth-level agents. Meanwhile, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has declared opposition to the SIR, labeling it undemocratic.