THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a development that could spark intense debate in the coming days, over 25 lakh people — about 8.98% of the total electorate — are missing from the electoral rolls in Kerala after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission.
Political parties have raised concerns over the enormity of the excluded voters, pointing to a significant disparity between this figure and the data shared with them at a meeting held nine days ago.
According to the latest data presented by EC officials at an all-party meeting convened by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Monday, a total of 25,01,012 people have been marked ‘untraceable’. This includes 6,44,547 deceased, 8,19,346 people who shifted permanently, 1,31,530 duplications, 7,11,958 untraceable and 1,93,631 others who either refused to accept the enumeration forms or return them.
With 4,36,857 ‘untraceable’ voters, Thiruvananthapuram district tops the chart, followed by Ernakulam (3,34,962) and Thrissur (2,56,842). The CEO had on multiple occasions said that booth-level officers (BLOs) were facing difficulties in locating people in the urban areas.
The enumeration period in state will end on December 18 and the draft roll will be out on December 23.
Major political parties seek clarity on data
Major political parties sought clarity in the figures and transparency in the process. They urged the CEO to provide them with the assembly constituency-wise list of 25 lakh people who have been marked as untraceable. The parties suggested that they will verify these data on the ground level before the draft voters’ list is published.
While the CEO has agreed to do the necessary, the parties remain unsure whether any action will be taken. The BJP representative, who was part of the meeting, did not express any dissent to the suggestions made by other parties.
Citing the huge disparity in the numbers furnished by officials, CPM representative M V Jayarajan said this could even become a repetition of Bihar. “In the meeting convened on December 6, the number of deceased was 6.11 lakh and untraceable 20 lakh.
Nine days later, the number of deceased has increased to 6.44 lakh and untraceable to 25 lakh. Around 33,000 deaths in Kerala within this period is impossible,” he told TNIE. CPI representative Sathyan Mokeri said the criteria under which people have been termed ‘deceased’ or ‘shifted’ are unscientific.
As per the current SIR schedule, the final voters’ list will be published on February 21. Officials have received over 99.96% of the distributed enumeration forms, while 99.77% of the forms have been digitised.