Learn how Kerala’s government and opposition parties have united to challenge the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, citing unscientific methods and potential democratic concerns.
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Understanding Kerala’s Stand Against the Electoral Revision
The Kerala government, guided by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has decided to take legal action against the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This bold decision emerged from an all-party meeting held on Wednesday, bringing together political leaders from across the state to discuss this controversial electoral process.
What makes this situation particularly significant is the remarkable unity shown by all political parties in the state except the BJP. This unusual consensus reflects deep concerns about the methodology and timing of the electoral revision process that the Election Commission has initiated.
The Core Issue: Explaining the Government’s Concerns
At the heart of this dispute lies a fundamental disagreement about how electoral rolls should be revised. The Election Commission has chosen to use the voter list from 2002 as the foundation for its current revision process. However, the Kerala government points out that a fully updated and verified electoral roll already exists from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which was conducted just recently.
Chief Minister Vijayan described the EC’s decision to use the 2002 rolls as the base as completely unscientific and driven by ill intentions. He emphasized that using a voter list that is more than two decades old, when a recent and accurate list is available, raises serious questions about the purpose and methodology of this exercise.
The government has also highlighted that using the old 2002 rolls creates practical complications and inconsistencies. When electoral rolls are updated, they typically build upon the most recent version to ensure continuity and accuracy. Starting from rolls that are 23 years old essentially means ignoring all the improvements and corrections made over more than two decades.
Political Parties Unite on This Critical Issue
The response from Kerala’s political establishment has been remarkably unified. During the all-party meeting organized by the Chief Minister, representatives from multiple parties expressed their concerns about the SIR process.
Opposition Leader V D Satheesan made a powerful statement of solidarity, announcing that the Congress party and the broader opposition would join the legal challenge if the state government moved to the Supreme Court. This demonstrates that this is not a partisan issue but rather a matter of protecting democratic principles that all parties, regardless of political ideology, value equally.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary M V Govindan characterized the SIR process as unconstitutional and anti-democratic. The CPM, which leads the state government alongside its coalition partners, has been particularly vocal about the need to protect the rights of Kerala’s voters.
Multiple other political parties participated in the meeting and shared similar concerns. The gathering included representatives from the Congress, the Communist Party of India, the Indian Union Muslim League, various Kerala Congress factions, and other regional parties. Each of these parties expressed worries that implementing the SIR using the 2002 rolls could lead to significant complications and potential disenfranchisement of legitimate voters.
Only the BJP representatives opposed this united stance, with BJP state leader K Surendran being the sole voice arguing against the legal challenge.
Comparing with What Happened in Bihar
The Kerala government’s concerns are not unfounded. Similar SIR processes have already been completed in other states, most notably Bihar, where this revision was conducted before the state’s assembly elections earlier this year.
During Bihar’s SIR process, approximately 65 lakh (6.5 million) voters were removed from the electoral rolls. Chief Minister Vijayan specifically referenced this outcome as evidence that the SIR process can result in massive disenfranchisement of voters. He argued that if such large numbers of voters were removed in Bihar, similar outcomes could be expected when the SIR is implemented in Kerala.
This comparison is particularly troubling to the Kerala government because it suggests that the SIR methodology, regardless of the state where it is applied, tends to result in significant voter removal rather than just updating or correcting records.
Why the Timing Makes the Situation More Complex
The Kerala government has also raised concerns about the timing of the electoral revision. The state is preparing to conduct local body elections in the near future. Conducting a major overhaul of electoral rolls through the SIR process at this critical juncture creates practical challenges and potential disruptions.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala had previously requested that the Election Commission postpone the SIR process specifically because of these upcoming local body elections. Despite this request from the state’s election administration, the Commission proceeded with its plan to begin the SIR process.
The state government views this decision to proceed, despite local concerns and warnings, as raising suspicions about the true purpose behind the electoral revision initiative.
The House-to-House Enumeration Process
The practical implementation of the SIR began on November 4, 2025, when Booth Level Officers started visiting homes across Kerala to distribute enumeration forms. On the first day itself, over 2.07 lakh enumeration forms were distributed across the state.
The process requires voters to fill out forms with their details and submit them to officials. This house-to-house enumeration is expected to continue until December 4. The Election Commission plans to publish a draft of the revised electoral roll on December 9, and the final electoral roll is scheduled for February 7, 2026.
During this enumeration process, voters whose names appear on the EC’s rolls as of October 27, 2025, are being asked to confirm their information and eligibility. Those whose names appear in the old 2002 rolls but not in more recent rolls will be issued notices and required to submit documents proving their eligibility and citizenship.
The Democracy and Rights Concerns
The Kerala legislature had already passed a unanimous resolution against the SIR process, highlighting concerns that this exercise might be a backdoor method to implement provisions similar to the National Register of Citizens, a controversial process previously discussed at the national level.
The resolution pointed out that the conduct of the SIR process raises concerns about whether fundamental democratic rights, particularly the universal right to vote guaranteed under Article 326 of the Indian Constitution, are being adequately protected.
The government has also cited the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, arguing that these legal documents clearly state that any update to electoral rolls must be based on the current voter list, not rolls from several decades ago.
What Happens Next in This Legal Battle
The Kerala government, along with all supporting political parties, has committed to seeking legal advice on how to proceed with the court challenge. The state is likely to move the Supreme Court to challenge the constitutional validity of the SIR process being implemented in Kerala and other states.
Tamil Nadu has already taken a similar step, with the DMK government approaching the Supreme Court on this issue. West Bengal is also expected to challenge the SIR process in court. These coordinated challenges from multiple states suggest that this could become a significant legal battle over the powers of the Election Commission and the rights of voters.
The upcoming legal proceedings will likely focus on whether the Election Commission has the constitutional authority to revise using voter lists from 2002 when more recent and accurate lists exist, and whether such a process violates the fundamental rights of citizens.
Conclusion
The Kerala government’s decision to legally challenge the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision represents a significant moment in Indian politics. The remarkable unity shown by all political parties except the BJP highlights that concerns about electoral roll management transcend typical political divisions.
The government has raised legitimate questions about the methodology, timing, and purpose of using 2002 voter lists as the base for current revisions when recent, verified rolls are available. The concerns about massive voter disenfranchisement, as evidenced by experiences in Bihar, add weight to Kerala’s position.
As the house-to-house enumeration process continues and the legal challenge proceeds through the courts, this issue will likely become a major test of the balance between the Election Commission’s authority and the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights.
Source: Kerala vs SIR: CM Vijayan to legally challenge roll revision; joins Tamil Nadu & Challenge to democracy, NRC in disguise: Pinarayi Vijayan slams poll body’s SIR
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