Congress Panchayat Member Faces Voter List Removal After Ration Card Deletion
In a significant development in Kerala's political landscape, Congress Pathanamthitta district panchayat member Sreena Devi Kunjamma faces removal from the voters' list following the deletion of her name from a ration card. The Adoor revenue divisional officer issued a formal order on Tuesday mandating this action, creating a complex electoral situation just as assembly election notifications were issued on Monday.
Election Timeline Creates Temporary Reprieve
Despite the removal order, Kunjamma will temporarily remain on the voters' list until the current assembly election concludes. This exception exists because election laws prohibit denying anyone's voting rights after official election notifications have been issued. The RDO's order specifically states that Kunjamma's name will be removed from polling booth number 189 in the Adoor constituency using Form 7 procedures once the election period ends.
Complaint Reveals Residency Discrepancy
The controversy began when Sreejith S Pillai, one of the children of late Yashoda, filed a formal complaint with the Adoor RDO. He requested Kunjamma's removal from the voters' list associated with his family home at Manakkala in Erathu grama panchayat. Investigations confirmed that Kunjamma does not actually reside at the address listed in her election documents.
Authorities provided Kunjamma with an opportunity to submit documents proving her residency at the contested address, but she failed to present any supporting evidence or documentation. This lack of verification led directly to the RDO's decision to proceed with her removal from the electoral roll.
Ration Card Controversy Preceded Voter List Issue
The voter list problem follows an earlier ration card controversy that unfolded just one week prior. The local supply officer cancelled the ration card containing Kunjamma's name after receiving complaints from the cardholder's children. They alleged that Kunjamma's name had been added with incorrect information, specifically claiming she was listed as the daughter of the cardholder's brother-in-law when no such relative existed.
The complainants discovered Kunjamma's name on their family ration card in December last year while checking SIR information, prompting their formal complaint to the supply officer in January this year.
Political Background and Allegations
Kunjamma has a notable political history in the region. She initially contested and won from Pallikkal division as a CPI candidate during the 2020 local body elections. After leaving the Communist Party of India, she joined the Congress party and subsequently won as a United Democratic Front candidate to the district panchayat from the same division last year.
The panchayat member has characterized the entire sequence of events as politically motivated, stating publicly that "efforts are under way to disqualify me." She has announced plans to file an appeal with the district collector against the removal action and indicated she may pursue legal recourse through the courts if necessary.
Documentation Chain Reaction
The case highlights how electoral documentation relies on interconnected government records. Kunjamma's election documents were based on the contested ration card, which listed her as residing at Yashoda's house where she had initially stayed as a tenant. She later reportedly became owner of a one-cent land within that compound, though this ownership claim appears insufficient to establish legitimate residency for voting purposes according to the RDO's findings.
This developing situation continues to unfold as election preparations proceed, with the temporary preservation of Kunjamma's voting rights creating a unique circumstance where removal orders have been issued but cannot be implemented until after voters cast their ballots.
