Thiruvananthapuram, December 19, 2025 – In a sharp critique of the ongoing electoral roll revision process, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday flagged the exclusion of approximately 25 lakh voters from the draft list under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), warning that such deletions could undermine the foundations of democracy. Vijayan urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to immediately intervene, ensure transparency, and prevent the disenfranchisement of eligible citizens.
The controversy erupted amid the ECI's SIR exercise, a comprehensive door-to-door enumeration aimed at cleaning up voter lists ahead of upcoming elections. Media reports highlighted that around 24.81 lakh entries have been marked as "untraceable," with the draft voter list slated for release on December 23. The breakdown of these exclusions includes 6.49 lakh deceased voters, 6.89 lakh untraceable individuals, 8.21 lakh who have shifted residences, 1.34 lakh duplicates, and 1.86 lakh under a vague "others" category, raising eyebrows over the criteria for deletions.
Speaking to reporters here, Vijayan expressed grave concern over the "flawed" revision, alleging it was rushed without adequate preparation or consultation with stakeholders. "A flawed voter list is being prepared, and cancelling the right to vote for technical reasons destroys democracy's foundation," he said, emphasizing that no eligible voter from the Special Summary Revision conducted in September 2025 should be excluded. He demanded that the ECI make all SIR-related information publicly accessible on its website, allowing political parties and citizens to scrutinize the process.
The Chief Minister pointed to historical precedents, noting that the last SIR in 2002 led to widespread issues, including demands for proof of family relationships for voters under 18 at the time (now under 40), resulting in nearly two lakh ineligible per district even today. Vijayan accused the ECI of ignoring repeated pleas from the Kerala government and opposition parties to delay the exercise, especially as it coincides with preparations for local body elections, overburdening Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
The Kerala government has already approached the Supreme Court on the matter, which has directed the ECI to address the state's concerns regarding shortcomings in the voter list revision. Vijayan assured that the state would take "all necessary measures" to ensure every eligible voter is reinstated.
Chief Electoral Officer Ratan U Kelkar confirmed the completion of the enumeration phase but offered no immediate response to the CM's allegations, sticking to the official figures of untraceable voters. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), have echoed the LDF government's objections, calling for the ECI to publish the names of those at risk of exclusion alongside the draft list to allow for timely appeals.
The SIR, mandated by the ECI to enhance the accuracy of electoral rolls, has sparked political heat across Kerala, with fears that mass deletions could disproportionately affect marginalized communities and long-time residents unable to provide immediate documentation. As the draft rolls loom, Vijayan's intervention underscores a broader debate on balancing electoral integrity with inclusive democracy in India's southern state.
(With inputs from PTI and The Week)
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