Amid pushback against SIR, Kerala govt calls all-party meeting

Except for the Bharatiya Janata Party, all major parties in Kerala have opposed the exercise, saying it will clash with the local body polls due in early December. After the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the ECI’s decision “has to be opposed.”
“The all-party meeting will discuss the further steps,” he added.

Vijayan had earlier urged the ECI to review its decision, saying it could affect the Commission’s credibility. “Institutions like the Election Commission should not be allowed to become puppets of the party ruling the Centre,” he said.

The announcement came despite objections from the state. After consultations with political parties last month, Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer had urged the ECI to postpone the process citing the local elections.

The Assembly had also passed a unanimous resolution warning that the exercise could be used to indirectly conduct the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
“In what manner those who attempt to dust off the Citizenship Amendment Act will use the SIR will be a challenge faced by democracy. The EC should desist from such actions that will violate fundamental rights,” the resolution said.

As per the ECI schedule, printing and training will be held between October 28 and November 3, house-to-house enumeration from November 4 to December 4, and claims and objections from December 9 to January 8. Final rolls will be published on February 7.