Congress to oppose Election Commission’s SIR implementation in Kerala, says Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said the Congress party will strongly oppose the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to implement the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala and other states, citing procedural and democratic concerns.

“Yes, we will oppose it in other states also, given how they have done in Bihar. We have fought against it in Parliament and outside and everywhere. We will continue to fight against it,” Priyanka Gandhi said, responding to a question on the party’s stance regarding the exercise in Kerala.

The Congress’s opposition aligns with similar objections raised by the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the ECI’s move as “a direct challenge to the democratic process” and urged the poll body to withdraw measures that “undermine its own credibility.” In a statement issued on Tuesday, Vijayan said the revision was being planned using electoral rolls from 2002–2004, instead of the current voter list, which he argued was contrary to the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, that mandate revisions to be based on updated lists.

The Chief Minister also noted that the State Election Officer had already stated that conducting an SIR was impractical at this stage, given that local body elections in Kerala are approaching. “The insistence on implementing the SIR immediately casts serious doubt on the Election Commission’s motives,” Vijayan added.

Meanwhile, Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rathan U Kelkar defended the initiative, stating that the purpose of the SIR is to “purify” the electoral rolls and ensure greater accuracy. “We have repeatedly told all the political parties that the intention of SIR is to ensure that all eligible electors are included in the electoral roll and no ineligible elector should be retained,” Kelkar said.

He assured that the process would remain transparent and inclusive. “If political parties or citizens feel that some people are being left out, they can give the list to me directly. I will personally ensure the entire list is examined and all eligible people are included,” he added.

According to the Election Commission, the SIR is a nationwide exercise aimed at verifying, updating, and cleaning the voter lists through house-to-house verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and public display of draft rolls. The ECI has stated that the revision process will be conducted in compliance with existing electoral laws and that claims, objections, and appeals will be accepted to ensure fairness.

While the Congress and other opposition parties have warned that the exercise may lead to voter exclusion and administrative disruptions, the Election Commission maintains that the SIR will strengthen the credibility of electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections in several states, including Kerala.