The EC has decided to proceed with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter lists, which is a thorough update of the electoral rolls. The state legislature had already raised objections to this plan.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that the all-party meeting will be held at 4 pm on November 5.
This announcement came after most political parties asked for the SIR to be delayed. During a meeting with Rathan U Kelkar, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) – Kerala, representatives of all recognized political parties except the BJP demanded that the SIR be postponed because local body elections are coming up. They asked the CEO to pass their request on to the EC again.
The CPM’s M V Jayarajan strongly protested, suggesting the SIR might be a way to secretly impose the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Congress state president Sunny Joseph asked that the SIR be put off until after the local body elections.
Representatives from the CPI, Muslim League, Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress(M), and RSP also strongly criticized the decision to proceed with the SIR now. (With input from TNIE)
For more details: Navamalayalam.com
