Use 2024 LS voter list, accept ration card as ID: Parties tell CEO in roll revision meet

Thiruvananthapuram: In a meeting convened by State Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Khelkar on Saturday, all major political parties except the BJP opposed implementing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll based on the Bihar model. They argued against using the 2002 electoral roll as the base document and instead suggested that the 2024 Lok Sabha voter list should serve as the standard.

Parties also demanded that the ration card be accepted as a valid identity document for electoral purposes.

Participants emphasised the need for cleansing the voter list through practical measures, such as video call verification, especially to ensure the inclusion of expatriate voters. They stressed that the process should not be rushed, as only a few months remain before the upcoming local self-government elections.

Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Khelkar clarified that discussions with the State Election Commissioner confirmed that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) appointed by the Election Commission will not be involved in local election duties. He assured that all suggestions raised in the meeting would be conveyed to the Election Commission of India.

Representatives from multiple parties participated, including M.V. Jayarajan, P.C. Vishnunath (MLA), M. Liju, K. Raju, C.P. Cheriyamohammed, B. Gopalakrishnan, P.G. Prasannakumar, A. Jayakumar, Joy Abraham, and K. Anandakumar.

Timetable not finalised: Rathan Khelkar

Chief Electoral Officer Khelkar stated that the timetable for the intensive revision process has not yet been received, though preliminary preparations have begun. He said all eligible voters will be included, while names of the deceased, foreigners, duplicates, and migrants will be removed.

Voters will be provided a simple application form, which can also be submitted online. After this, a draft electoral roll will be published. Complaints can be filed with District Collectors and the Chief Electoral Officer.

Voices from the meeting

“It is not right to proceed” – M.V. Jayarajan, CPM

Jayarajan objected to proceeding with the revision while a related case is pending in the Supreme Court. He criticised the move by Collectors in five districts to convene BLO meetings even before a state-level political consultation was held. He also said there is no need for voters to fill out a separate form again.

“What is needed is a purification process” – P.C. Vishnunath, Congress

Congress MLA Vishnunath said the focus should be on removing duplicate entries and names of deceased persons. He pointed out the absurdity of requiring individuals who have voted in four Assembly elections to reapply for inclusion in the voter list.

“Citizenship is the qualification to vote” – B. Gopalakrishnan, BJP

BJP representative Gopalakrishnan said Indian citizenship must remain the fundamental qualification for voting. Clarifying the term “migrants,” he said it refers to foreign nationals, not internal migrants, and urged a fact-based approach. He added that it is up to the Election Commission to decide which voter list to use as the base.