The Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls are overlapping with Kerala’s local body elections scheduled for December 9 and 11. All major parties, except the BJP, have called for the SIR to be postponed, arguing that the process is pressuring officials, confusing parties and voters alike.
According to CPI(M) State committee member and former MP N.N. Krishnadas, every politician regardless of party or standing is involved in the local body polls, and the SIR will be a major distraction for them.
He said that local body elections, often described as the festival of democracy, attract ordinary people rather than just seasoned politicians. Everyone is under pressure now, he said.
Mr. Krishnadas added that over two lakh government employees are currently being trained for the local body polls while roughly one lakh BLOs are tied up with the SIR. “They are performing electoral duties on top of their regular jobs, which is causing stress and affecting their work,” he said.
‘Hidden motive’
