In a significant display of political unity, Kerala’s Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has announced its collaboration with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) to pass a unanimous resolution in the State Assembly. Their collective aim is to challenge the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) plan to conduct a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the state.
Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, September 19, 2025, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan critically questioned the ECI’s justification for initiating such a revision so close to both the local body polls and the crucial Assembly elections in 2026.
Satheesan highlighted that the current electoral list used in Kerala is based on the 2002 census. He further expressed deep concern that the ECI’s requirement for voters to produce a range of documents, including birth and domicile certificates, for re-registration could lead to severe consequences. He warned that “millions of voters, already facing difficulties in producing such documents, risk being disenfranchised” from the upcoming voter list.
Political Unity Against the Revision
Mr. Satheesan underscored the shared apprehension among major allies of the INDIA bloc, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Communist Party of India (CPI), regarding this intensive electoral revision.
He recalled parliamentary opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s previous allegations concerning an “organised and deeply rooted digital voter list fraud,” which have raised serious questions about the ECI’s impartiality. Satheesan suggested that the ECI’s actions appear to be a deliberate attempt to reduce the number of voters from “marginalised and backward sections of society,” implying a political motive given these groups’ historical support for INDIA bloc allies.