Sat Feb 14 17:43:50 UTC 2026: ### Kerala’s Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls Nears Completion Amidst Controversy

The Story:
Kerala’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll is nearing completion, with the final roll scheduled for publication on February 21, 2026. Hearings and verifications concluded on February 14, 2026, after a process that saw approximately 40,000 people removed from the rolls. The exercise, aimed at addressing discrepancies and outdated information, initially faced delays and revisions due to concerns raised by political parties and the State government, ultimately requiring intervention by the Supreme Court. The Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, Rathan U. Kelkar, is set to meet with political parties to discuss the outcome.

Key Points:

  • Hearings and verification phase of the SIR ended on February 14, 2026.
  • Final roll to be published on February 21, 2026.
  • Approximately 40,000 voters removed from the roll.
  • 36,88,948 people were on the ‘no mapping’ and ‘logical discrepancies’ lists.
  • House-to-house enumeration started on November 4, 2025.
  • Originally, final rolls were scheduled to be published on February 7, 2026, but the schedule was revised.
  • 24.08 lakh voters were initially deleted in the draft rolls published on December 23, with a total of 2.54 crore voters figuring in the draft roll.
  • 19.32 lakh voters in the draft roll also figured in the ‘unmapped’ list.

Critical Analysis:

The delay and revision of the SIR schedule, necessitating Supreme Court intervention, suggests underlying political tensions and potentially contested data integrity concerns. The high number of voters initially deleted (24.08 lakh) indicates potential systemic issues with the electoral roll maintenance process.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SIR exercise highlights the complexities and challenges in maintaining an accurate electoral roll.
  • Political and governmental concerns can significantly impact electoral processes.
  • Supreme Court intervention underscores the importance of judicial oversight in ensuring fair and transparent elections.
  • The removal of a substantial number of voters raises questions about the previous accuracy of the rolls.
  • Data discrepancies (“no mapping,” “logical discrepancies”) need systematic addressing to prevent future issues.

Impact Analysis:

The completion of the SIR, despite the controversies, has a significant impact on the upcoming elections in Kerala.

  • Enhanced Electoral Integrity: A revised and updated electoral roll should theoretically lead to more accurate and credible election results.
  • Political Repercussions: The exclusion of a large number of voters, regardless of the reason, could have implications for the political landscape, potentially affecting voter turnout and election outcomes for various parties.
  • Precedent for Future Revisions: The challenges faced during this SIR exercise could inform and potentially improve future electoral roll revision processes, both in Kerala and potentially in other states facing similar issues.
  • Increased Public Scrutiny: The controversies and delays surrounding the SIR are likely to increase public scrutiny of the electoral process, demanding greater transparency and accountability from election authorities.

    Read More

Related News: