Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sharply denounced the Election Commission of India’s decision to undertake a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories, describing it as unconstitutional, politically motivated, and a grave threat to the democratic framework of the country. Vijayan asserted that the move disregards established electoral laws and poses a direct challenge to the fairness and integrity of India’s electoral process.
In his official statement, Vijayan accused the Election Commission of violating the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. He highlighted that the decision to base the revision on voter lists from 2002 to 2004, rather than the current rolls, was fundamentally illegal. According to him, these laws explicitly mandate that any revision or update must originate from the latest electoral list. He argued that ignoring this requirement undermines the legitimacy of the revision and raises doubts about the true motives behind it.
Vijayan further emphasized that Kerala’s State Election Officer had already cautioned the Commission about the practical difficulties of conducting an SIR at this time. The state is currently gearing up for local body elections, making such a massive revision exercise both impractical and disruptive. “Despite clear warnings, the Election Commission’s insistence on moving forward suggests hidden intentions behind this decision,” Vijayan stated, implying that the move could be politically driven.
Drawing parallels to Bihar, where a similar Special Intensive Revision was earlier conducted, the Chief Minister pointed out that nearly 65 lakh voters were reportedly deleted from the electoral rolls. He described this as a “gross violation” of Article 326 of the Constitution, which guarantees every adult citizen the right to vote. He maintained that the right to vote, being a core element of democracy, cannot be manipulated or restricted based on political agendas.
Vijayan also expressed apprehension that the ongoing revision might serve as an indirect attempt to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the back door. He remarked that similar concerns raised during earlier exercises had never been convincingly dismissed by the central authorities. “When the constitutional validity of the Bihar SIR itself is under the Supreme Court’s scrutiny, extending the same process to other states cannot be viewed as a routine administrative step,” he said, suggesting that the hurried rollout of this exercise was a deliberate attempt to influence electoral outcomes.
The Chief Minister urged the Election Commission to uphold its institutional credibility by avoiding decisions that appear biased or politically influenced. He warned that the Commission must not “reduce itself to a puppet of the ruling party at the Centre,” stressing that such actions could permanently damage public trust in the country’s electoral machinery.
Kerala stands out as the only state whose Legislative Assembly has officially passed a resolution opposing the Special Intensive Revision. In his concluding remarks, Vijayan appealed to all citizens and political groups committed to preserving democratic values to unite and resist the implementation of the second phase of the SIR process.
The Election Commission, however, had recently announced that the SIR would be carried out between November and February across 12 states and Union Territories, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and West Bengal — regions that are scheduled to hold Assembly elections in 2026. Vijayan’s strong opposition thus signals an escalating political confrontation between the state government and the central electoral body over the future of voter list revisions in India.
