Kerala CM Raises Alarm Over 25 Lakh Voters Missing From SIR Draft Rolls

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has criticised the Election Commission of India for removing nearly 25 lakh names from the state’s draft electoral roll. He accused the body of acting without transparency and rushing the process during local body elections. The deletions came under a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, sparking concerns over voter exclusion.

Vijayan highlighted that the last such revision in Kerala took place in 2002. Back then, around two lakh people per district were left off the rolls due to incomplete lineage document checks. This time, he warned, the lack of clarity over who falls under an 'others' category has led to widespread removals.

The Chief Minister demanded that the Election Commission prevent any eligible voter from being excluded in the ongoing SIR, especially ahead of the September 2025 Special Summary Revision. He stressed that the right to vote is fundamental and that denying it undermines democracy itself. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also condemned the deletions, blaming the Election Commission for the situation. The Kerala government has since approached the Supreme Court to safeguard voters' rights. Vijayan urged the Commission to focus on inclusion rather than exclusion when revising the electoral rolls.

The dispute centres on the removal of 25 lakh names, with both Vijayan and Stalin calling for greater transparency. Kerala’s legal challenge aims to ensure no eligible voter is disenfranchised before the next revision. The Election Commission has yet to clarify the criteria used for the deletions.