Chief Electoral Officer visits Edamalakkudy, reviews SIR progress

Authorities plan to complete all SIR related actions two days ahead of schedule

Kerala Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rathan U. Kelkar visited Edamalakkudy, the State’s first tribal panchayat in Munnar, to interact with residents ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

According to officials, the visit was to review the progress of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Kerala has seen significant success in implementing SIR, and authorities plan to complete all related actions two days ahead of schedule.

“We originally planned to complete the SIR proceedings by February 14, but will now be finished two days early. The final voter list is set to be published on February 21,” Mr. Kelkar said. He added that voters who need to include their names or make changes to the list should contact their booth level officer (BLO) or electoral registration officer (ERO). “Names can be added to the list until a day before the final date for submitting nomination papers for the assembly election,” he said.

Mr. Kelkar further said that the SIR hearing process has already been completed in 64 assembly constituencies across the State.

During the visit, the CEO interacted with tribal community members from the Edalipparakudy, Societykudy, Meenkuthikudy, and Ampalapadikudy settlements. He also visited the home of 90-year-old voter Doraiswami in Ampalapadikudy, encouraging him to cast his vote and to inspire others in the community to do the same. Additionally, the CEO reviewed the polling booth arrangements at the Edamalakkudy Government Tribal UP School.

The CEO was accompanied by Devikulam Sub-Collector V.M. Arya, Deputy Collector Suja Varghese, Munnar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP) S. Chandrakumar, Devikulam Tehsildar G. Ajesh, Range Forest Officer K. Abhilash, and Section Forest Officer K.G. Murali.