Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday expressed serious concern over what he described as the “hurried” implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, being carried out across 12 states and Union Territories, without sufficient consultation with political parties.
Addressing the media after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Vijayan said the state government has decided to convene an all-party meeting on November 5 at 4 p.m. to discuss the issue and determine the next steps.
“It is essential that the process of voter list revision is transparent, inclusive, and enjoys the confidence of all stakeholders,” the Chief Minister said.
Vijayan reiterated his earlier concerns regarding the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) procedures for the voter roll revision, warning that a lack of consultation and groundwork could undermine public trust in the process.
The Chief Minister noted that several political parties had submitted representations to the state government, objecting to the timing and pace of the SIR drive, which they claim is being rushed without sufficient preparation at the grassroots level.
“The state government will soon convey Kerala’s concerns to the Election Commission and urge it to ensure fairness, accuracy, and adequate preparation time before finalising the updated voter rolls,” Vijayan said.
Political observers see the move to call an all-party meeting as an attempt by the state government to forge consensus among political stakeholders on an issue that directly affects the credibility of elections.
Earlier in the day, during a meeting convened by Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Kelkar, most political parties—including the Congress, CPI(M), CPI, and others—reportedly opposed the hasty implementation of the SIR, with the BJP being the only party supporting the revision schedule.
With IANS inputs