Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across multiple states, including Kerala. Calling the move a “serious threat to democracy,” Vijayan warned that the plan could undermine the integrity of India’s electoral system.
According to the Chief Minister, the Election Commission’s decision to rely on voter lists from 2002–2004 instead of current rolls violates key provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. CM pointed out that Kerala’s own State Election Officer had earlier informed the Commission that conducting such a large-scale revision would be impractical, especially with local body elections approaching in the state.
Vijayan cautioned that the SIR could result in mass disenfranchisement, particularly affecting marginalised and vulnerable communities, and warned that the move could be viewed as a “backdoor implementation” of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) model. CM urged citizens and democratic forces across the country to unite against what he described as an attempt to tamper with universal suffrage and electoral transparency.
The Election Commission, on the other hand, maintains that the SIR is a routine exercise aimed at updating voter data, removing duplicates, and cleaning up outdated records. The revision is being conducted across 12 states and union territories, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
However, the Kerala government argues that such a major revision at this stage will disrupt administrative processes and create confusion among voters. The state legislature has reportedly passed a resolution opposing the SIR, reflecting a rare show of unity among political parties in Kerala on this issue.
Observers believe that the row could escalate into a legal and constitutional debate over the timing, neutrality, and legality of the Election Commission’s actions. As the controversy deepens, questions are being raised about whether the SIR is truly an administrative necessity—or a move with deeper political implications for India’s democratic fabric.
