Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will present the resolution in the Assembly on Monday, 29 September, when the House reconvenes after a short break.
Published Sep 27, 2025 | 1:31 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 27, 2025 | 1:31 PM
Kerala Legislative Assembly, Thiruvananthapuram. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: The draft resolution states that the SIR process carried out in Bihar has already sparked widespread concern over unreasonable exclusions from the voter list, with allegations of politically motivated disenfranchisement. The state government has warned that introducing the same process in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal—on the eve of crucial elections—appears to be “ill-intentioned” and aimed at subverting the democratic will of the people.
The Kerala government has prepared a draft resolution opposing the Election Commission of India’s decision to implement the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, which it says is a veiled attempt to introduce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the back door.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will present the resolution in the Assembly on Monday, 29 September, when the House reconvenes after a short break.
The draft resolution states that the SIR process carried out in Bihar has already sparked widespread concern over unreasonable exclusions from the voter list, with allegations of politically motivated disenfranchisement.
The state government has warned that introducing the same process in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal—on the eve of crucial elections—appears to be “ill-intentioned” and aimed at subverting the democratic will of the people.
“The stipulation that those born after 1987 can vote only if they produce the citizenship documents of their parents is a direct violation of adult franchise guaranteed under Article 326 of the Constitution,” the resolution notes.
It also points out that citizens born after 2003 will face even harsher restrictions, as they would have to furnish their parents’ citizenship papers to be included in the electoral roll. According to the draft, such requirements will disproportionately affect marginalized groups, including minority communities, women, poor families, and non-resident Keralites.
It cites expert studies suggesting that these sections are most vulnerable to being stripped of voting rights due to lack of documentation.
The resolution further alleges that the SIR exercise is being pushed forward in parallel with attempts to revive the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which it argues undermines the secular principles of Indian democracy by linking citizenship with religion.
“The attempt to dust off the CAA and implement SIR in haste is a challenge to democracy. This Assembly unanimously demands that the Election Commission refrain from measures that violate fundamental rights and instead carry out a transparent and inclusive update of the electoral roll,” the draft declares.
Earlier, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress have raised strong objections to the Election Commission of India’s move to conduct a SIR of the voters’ list ahead of the local body polls and 2026 Assembly elections, warning that it could disenfranchise lakhs of citizens in Kerala.
CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan stated that the ECI’s decision to rely on the 2002 electoral rolls as the base document for the revision was “fundamentally flawed.”
He pointed out that Kerala’s population had grown by nearly 1.57 crore over the past two decades, and the number of polling booths had increased by around 10,000 during the same period.
“If the ECI proceeds, nearly 50 lakh voters could lose their franchise. Moreover, the matter is still pending before the Supreme Court, yet the Commission appears to be moving forward, risking contempt,” Govindan said.
Echoing similar concerns, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph alleged that the Commission was forcing the revision despite opposition from major political parties.
He warned that nearly 55 lakh voters who enrolled after 2002 would be compelled to resubmit documents to prove their eligibility.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
