Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30 (IANS) Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday called for full public cooperation in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while AICC general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi criticized the exercise, alleging it could open the door to manipulation of electoral rolls.
Inaugurating the SIR process at the Raj Bhavan, Governor Arlekar urged officials to ensure that every eligible person from the state is included in the revised list.
“All eligible persons should get a chance to vote. The revised voter list should be more accurate and inclusive as well as complete,” he said.
The Governor appealed to the people to “wholeheartedly support and cooperate” in the voter verification drive and assured all possible assistance to the election officials from the Raj Bhavan. Arlekar emphasized that accuracy and inclusivity are essential for the credibility of democracy.
“The credibility of free and fair elections starts with an accurate voter list,” he said.
Chief Electoral Officer Ratan U. Kelkar briefed the Governor about the SIR processes including verification and use of technology to prevent duplication.
Additional Chief Electoral Officers Sharmila C. and Krishnadasan P., Joint Chief Electoral Officer Rusi RS, Electoral Registration Officer Madhu and Booth Level Officer Benazir were also present.
However, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi took a sharp stance against the SIR during her parliamentary constituency visit and alleged that the amendment was politically motivated and lacked transparency.
He said the practice could be misused to influence the voter base ahead of upcoming elections and called for greater monitoring to prevent manipulation.
While the Governor described the SIR as an important step to strengthen democracy, Priyanka Gandhi warned that it could lose public trust if it is operated without accountability.
The Election Commission has clarified that the special vetting being conducted in Kerala and 11 other states is aimed at ensuring error-free rolls before the next round of elections.
–IANS
sg/and