Chandy Oommen Alleges SIR Led To Removal Of Thousands Of Voters In Constituency

Congress leader Chandy Oommen, the sitting MLA from Puthuppally in Kerala, has alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls resulted in the loss of nearly 10,000 votes in his constituency during the recent Assembly elections held on Thursday. The remarks come ahead of the counting of votes scheduled for May 4, as political parties await the outcome of a closely watched contest in the state.

Speaking to a television channel, Oommen said several voters informed him that they intended to vote for him but discovered their names missing from the electoral rolls upon reaching polling booths. He described the situation as more than just a loss of votes, stating that it amounted to a denial of voting rights for many eligible citizens. He added that the issue was brought to his attention during interactions with voters on polling day.

Oommen, who represents Puthuppally and is the son of late Congress veteran and former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, said he had opposed the SIR process from the beginning. He also noted that he had approached the Supreme Court challenging the exercise, but his efforts did not yield any change in its implementation. He remarked that despite objections, “nothing can be done about it” after the process had been completed.

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Criticising the manner in which the electoral roll revision was carried out, Oommen said the Election Commission should have ensured a more inclusive approach rather than an allegedly hasty and exclusionary one. He argued that such administrative shortcomings can have a direct impact on voter participation and electoral fairness, especially in tightly contested constituencies.

The MLA also highlighted aspects of his campaign strategy, stating that he deliberately avoided using posters and hoardings bearing his name to prevent potential clashes between party workers. He said he refrained from concluding campaign celebrations for the same reason, citing concerns over political tensions. Despite these decisions, he expressed confidence that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would perform well in the state Assembly elections.

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