An argument broke out between representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress as they addressed the media while emerging out of a meeting called by Ernakulam District Collector G. Priyanka for a preliminary consultation with stakeholders over the SIR move initiated by the Election Commission of India.

The Ernakulam district collectorate on Thursday (Septemeber 18, 2025) witnessed a heated exchange of words between representatives of major political parties over the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls planned in the State ahead of the Assembly elections due next year.

An argument broke out between representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress as they addressed the media while emerging out of a meeting called by District Collector G. Priyanka for a preliminary consultation with stakeholders over the SIR move initiated by the Election Commission of India.

While leaders of political parties, including the Congress, raised concerns over the move to conduct the SIR and cited impracticalities, BJP representatives welcomed the move, accusing the Congress of adopting double standard on the question of electoral rolls.

"We made it clear at the meeting that we would not allow the Election Commission to implement its Bihar model in the State. We will fight the move not just legally but even physically if need arises," District Congress Committee general secretary Abdul Latheef said.

Congress district block president Viju Choolakkal said the SIR was aimed at removing many eligible voters from the list. He argued that a number of voters registered after 2002 would be removed from the list if SIR was implemented, as many of them who were abroad may not be able to submit identity proofs to retain their names on the rolls. The voter rolls of 2002 is being used as the base list for reference of revision.

BJP district vice president (city) Ajayakumar M.C. contested the Congress leaders' allegation, saying eligible voters could upload the documents from anywhere online. He said the BJP welcomed the move to cleanse the voter rolls.

Representatives political parties including CPI, Kerala Congress, and the PDP attended the meeting, while the CPI(M) stayed away.

Booth-level meets

The Collector said a meeting of booth-level officers and agents would be held to rectify mistakes in the voters' list, if any, and to identify names that should be excluded, including those of deceased voters. She urged political parties to take steps to appoint agents at all booths.

Election guidelines and code of conduct were explained at the meeting. Sub-Collector Grandhe Sai Krishna, Additional District Magistrate Vinod Raj, Deputy Collector (Election) Sunil Mathew, and electoral registration officers were present.

Cong., BJP leaders spar over special intensive revision