Thiruvananthapuram: With the deadline for updating the voter list for Kerala’s upcoming local body elections ending today (August 7), major political parties are urging the State Election Commission to extend the timeline. The Congress has requested an extension until August 25, while the CPI is seeking an additional one-month window, citing widespread confusion and logistical hurdles. The BJP has demanded a deadline of August 31, highlighting serious issues in the draft list, including voters listed in the wrong wards, missing names, and technical problems such as website crashes and entry restrictions. BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar warned that without an extension, the transparency of the electoral process could be compromised. Since the draft list was published on July 23, voters have had just 15 days to make additions or corrections—an insufficient period, say party leaders. The Election Commission is expected to announce its decision on the extension later today.
