'Serious challenge to democratic process': Kerala CM urges resistance to SIR; calls it violation of Article 326

NEW DELHI: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly condemned the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to extend the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' lists to multiple states, calling it a serious threat to democracy. He urged all who value democracy to unite and oppose this process.In a statement Tuesday, Vijayan warned that the move “poses a serious challenge to the democratic process” and raises doubts about the poll panel’s intentions, potentially eroding public trust in the electoral system.Vijayan described the SIR as a clear attempt to undermine universal suffrage and manipulate electoral rolls for political gain. The Election Commission on Monday announced the SIR will take place between November and February in 12 states and Union Territories, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and West Bengal, all of which will hold assembly elections in 2026.Highlighting concerns, the chief minister pointed out that the criticism accusing central authorities of using the SIR for political advantage has not been denied. He stressed, “Even while the constitutional validity of the Bihar SIR is under the consideration of the Supreme Court, the move to extend the same process to other states cannot be viewed as innocent or impartial. Conducting such a special intensive revision – which requires long-term preparation and extensive consultation – in haste clearly indicates an attempt to undermine the people's mandate," as quoted by PTI.Vijayan emphasised that Kerala’s chief electoral officer had already informed the Election Commission that conducting the SIR now would be impractical due to preparations for local body elections. He said, “Pressing ahead with the SIR at this stage, despite those warnings, raises suspicions about the purpose behind the move.”Kerala was the first state to unanimously pass a resolution in its Legislative Assembly opposing the SIR process. Vijayan referred to the situation in Bihar, where reportedly 65 lakh names were removed from the voters' list, stating this constitutes a “complete violation of Article 326 of the Constitution,” which guarantees universal adult franchise. He warned, as quoted by PTI, “The right to vote, a fundamental right of every citizen, cannot be taken away or altered to suit political interests,” and cautioned that the SIR “could become a backdoor implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).”