The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has urged the Election Commission to address the significant confusion and disruptions arising from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls in the state. The KPCC delegation, led by Working President P.C. Vishnunath MLA, highlighted concerns about flawed procedures, unscientific ward and booth delimitation, and clerical errors causing chaos for voters in Kerala. They emphasized the risk of disenfranchising genuine voters if corrective actions are not promptly taken.
The Congress leaders pointed out that the reorganization of wards and booths lacked proper geographical verification, leading to voters from a single booth being scattered across multiple locations. This situation has resulted in widespread confusion and inconvenience, particularly affecting elderly voters and those in rural areas. The delegation also criticized the unnecessary hardship imposed on voters during hearings under the guise of clerical or software-related errors.
Demanding that voters not be summoned for hearings due to errors, the KPCC team stressed that individuals with valid documents should not be called simply because their names were absent from the 2002 electoral rolls. They called for immediate rectification of what they termed “unscientific booth delimitation” to avoid further complications. The delegation highlighted that nearly 18 lakh voters have been excluded from the rolls due to mismatches and discrepancies, emphasizing that voters should not be penalized for software or administrative errors.
The KPCC team emphasized the need for uniformity in decisions and procedures related to the SIR process across Kerala, emphasizing transparency at every stage. They urged the Chief Electoral Officer to closely monitor officials involved in the revision exercise to prevent any political bias. Stressing the importance of protecting democratic rights, the Congress leaders vowed to persist until corrective measures are implemented, asserting that safeguarding every eligible citizen’s right to vote should be the Election Commission’s top priority.
