CPI(M), Congress raise alarm over 'rushed' voter roll revision ahead of local polls
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress in Kerala on Monday strongly opposed the Election Commission's decision to launch the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, warning that the move, coming just ahead of local body elections, could disrupt the democratic process.
The Election Commission announced on Monday that the SIR will be carried out between November and February in 12 states and Union Territories, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and West Bengal -- all of which will face assembly elections in 2026.
In a statement, the CPI(M) state secretariat said the BJP-ruled Centre was "trying to subvert India's democratic system by turning the Election Commission into a puppet."
The party demanded that the Union government withdraw from what it described as an "attempt to undermine the country's democratic system".
It accused the Union government of "rushing" the SIR in Kerala with "ulterior motives" and warned that the exercise, based on voter rolls from 2002–2004, could disenfranchise more than 50 lakh voters.
"The Commission has ignored Kerala's scientifically prepared voter list and frozen the existing rolls at midnight on Monday," the party said, calling the decision "illegal and undemocratic."
The CPI(M) added that the timing of the revision -- when the state is preparing for local body polls -- was "a deliberate attempt to interfere with the democratic process."
KPCC president and MLA Sunny Joseph echoed the criticism, calling the SIR decision "unilateral and irrational."
He said, "It is senseless to begin this process when preparations for local body elections are under way. The Election Commission must reconsider its decision."
Joseph said the Chief Electoral Officer had written to the Central Election Commission outlining the practical difficulties raised by opposition parties, but received no reply.
"This effectively denies citizens their democratic right to vote," he said. "It is unclear why people who have been on the rolls for 23 years are being asked to go through the registration process again."
LDF convener T P Ramakrishnan also called EC's decision to proceed with the SIR of electoral rolls "deeply undemocratic."
He said the poll panel, which should protect citizens' voting rights, was instead taking steps that could disenfranchise lakhs of voters and seemed aimed at serving the Sangh Parivar’s political interests.
Ramakrishnan said the Commission's reply on the Kerala local body voter list was “highly disturbing” and urged people to resist any move that undermines the electoral process.
Both the Congress and the Left demanded that the Special Intensive Revision be deferred until after the local body elections, and that the existing voter list -- which they described as transparent and scientifically prepared -- be used as the base document for future updates.
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'PM is scared of questions': Cong slams govt after IYC chief's arrest
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Indian Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib was arrested in connection with the shirtless protest at the AI Impact Summit, saying the PM is "scared" of dissent and questions being asked of him.
Chib was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the shirtless protest staged by a group of youth wing members at the AI Impact Summit here last week, officials said on Tuesday.
Police have also stepped up security across key locations in the capital in anticipation of possible protests following Chib's arrest, which took the total number of people held in the case to eight.
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Asked about Chib's arrest, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera told PTI Videos, "It is the duty of the opposition to protest in a democracy but a dictator will never understand this."
"If you hear the speech of that dictator in Meerut recently you will get to know that the word democracy does not exist in his dictionary," Khera said, in a swipe at the prime minister.
Chib as well as other colleagues are being arrested from various parts of the country, Khera, who is in Bhopal for the party's Kisan Maha Chaupal against the India-US interim trade deal, said,
"This shows that Narendra Modi is scared of dissent and questions being asked of him. Narendra Modi is emerging as the most cowardly Prime Minister in the world. He is being blackmailed, he is a coward, he is scared," Khera alleged.
"It has been the Congress' history that no matter how much oppression we face, we will continue to raise issues of the people and will keep fighting with 'Ahimsa'," he said.
Police had earlier arrested seven Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers, including three from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, for the protest at the Bharat Mandapam last Friday. They have been identified as Jitendra Yadav, Raj Gujjar and Ajay Kumar.
In addition, IYC's Uttar Pradesh general secretary Ritik alias Monty Shukla has been detained from Lalitpur in the state.
Senior officers said additional force has been deployed at the sensitive points, particularly in New Delhi, a hotspot for political demonstrations.
Security has been tightened around the Tilak Marg police station, where Chib is presently held, while barricades have been put up at the strategic points, with anti-riot teams on standby.
Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) and additional companies of paramilitary forces have also been placed on alert to respond to any law and order situation, officials said.
Senior officers have directed the field staff to ensure that traffic movement remains smooth.
On Friday, a group of IYC workers staged a dramatic protest inside Hall No. 5 of the summit venue by removing their shirts to reveal T-shirts printed with slogans against the government and the India-US interim trade deal, before being whisked away by security personnel.
Police said the accused had registered online and obtained QR codes to gain entry into the venue.
The incident triggered a political slugfest, with the BJP calling it a "shameful act to tarnish India's image on the global stage", and the IYC defending it as a "peaceful" demonstration aimed at safeguarding national interests.
VIDEO | Delhi: On arrest of Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib in connection with 'shirtless' protest staged by a group of IYC members at the AI Impact Summit last week, Congress leader Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) says, "Protesting is the duty and responsibility of the… pic.twitter.com/2MOujnPDLX
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 24, 2026
