Kerala political parties demand further extension of SIR time frame

Election authorities in Kerala were told by most major political parties with the exception of the BJP that the extended schedule set by the Election Commission of India for the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls was still not sufficient.

At a meeting chaired by Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Kelkar, party representatives urged that the deadline for enumeration be pushed at least to the end of December.

Representatives of the CPM, Congress and IUML expressed concern over the 20.75 lakh voters whose enumeration forms have yet not been collected, TNIE reported.

According to those present, CPM representative M. Vijayakumar voiced uncertainty about whether the official figures accurately reflected how many voters had been left out. CPI’s Sathyan Mokeri reportedly questioned why the Election Commission was moving so quickly, while Congress leader M. K. Rahman warned that as many as 34 lakh voters could end up being removed from the draft roll.

IUML representative Mohammed Shah was said to have argued that the window for hearings, set from December 23 to February 4, would not be enough for Electoral Registration Officers to address voter complaints.

The BJP’s J. R. Padmakumar, however, focused on ensuring that voters are not removed without a fair hearing, rather than seeking an extension.