Kerala's Industries Minister, P Rajeeve, has stated that the state government's decisive intervention in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls aims to safeguard the fundamental voting rights of every citizen. The minister made these crucial remarks during a press conference held in Kochi on Monday, addressing widespread concerns about voter list discrepancies, particularly the issue of 'non-mapping'.
Supreme Court Intervention and EC's Stance
Minister Rajeeve highlighted a significant legal step taken by the state. Kerala is the only state government to have approached the Supreme Court seeking resolution of problems arising from the SIR process. This move initially secured a two-week extension for the revision work. However, Rajeeve expressed disappointment, noting that while the apex court later instructed the Election Commission (EC) to address such concerns, the state did not receive the expected consideration from the poll body.
The Scale of the Non-Mapping Challenge
The core issue revolves around a massive 19,32,000 individuals across Kerala who find themselves in a 'non-mapping' category due to technical glitches. Although their names appear in the draft electoral roll, the system cannot automatically match them with previous lists, such as the 2002 roll or their parents' details. Their inclusion in the final voters' list is not guaranteed. To secure their voting right, these individuals must submit necessary documents and attend a hearing scheduled from January 6 to January 28.
Rajeeve pointed out a critical transparency gap. While the EC published both the draft list and the non-mapping list, the latter was not shared with political parties. It was provided only to Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Consequently, affected citizens must personally check with their local BLO to confirm their final status on the list.
Ernakulam's High Numbers and the Tripunithura Anomaly
The district-level data reveals the magnitude of the problem. In Ernakulam district alone, 2,06,061 people are caught in the non-mapping limbo. A surprising pattern emerged when constituency-wise figures were examined. Minister Rajeeve highlighted an interesting fact: Tripunithura constituency has the highest number at 33,264, surpassing even Ernakulam (26,544) and Thrikkakara, areas typically known for high floating populations.
The detailed breakdown for other key constituencies in the district is as follows:
- Kochi: 14,778
- Aluva: 13,959
- Kalamassery: 13,027
- Angamaly: 12,710
- Paravur: 12,993
- Piravom: 11,821
- Muvattupuzha: 10,810
- Vypin: 9,482
- Kunnathunad: 8,499
- Perumbavoor: 8,642
The Kerala government's proactive stance underscores its commitment to ensuring no eligible voter is disenfranchised due to procedural technicalities. The coming weeks, leading up to the hearings, will be critical for the nearly 20 lakh citizens whose voting rights hinge on navigating this corrective process.
