UDF and BJP claim widespread anomalies in voter list revisions; accuse officials of aiding CPI(M) ahead of civic polls
Kochi, Kerala – In a development that has sparked political uproar in Kerala, both the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have raised serious allegations over glaring irregularities in the newly published draft electoral rolls for the Kochi Corporation and the larger Ernakulam district. The opposition parties have accused officials of manipulating the rolls in a calculated attempt to favour the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] ahead of the civic body elections.
The draft rolls, released by the State Election Commission, have become the centre of a political storm with charges of voter misplacement, inclusion of non-residents, and dubious data entries surfacing in key constituencies considered strongholds of opposition parties.
Allegations of Deliberate Manipulation
Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod of the Congress-led UDF has formally petitioned the Chief Election Commissioner, with copies sent to the District Collector and the Kochi Corporation Secretary. In his petition, he flagged serious anomalies where hundreds of voters from several delimited wards were erroneously shifted to neighbouring ones — and, in some cases, entirely different Assembly constituencies.
“One example is the relocation of over 600 voters from nearly 200 households in the Perumanoor division (Ernakulam Assembly constituency) to the Panampilly Nagar division under Thrikkakara Assembly constituency,” Vinod pointed out.
He further noted that the correction process — which requires affected citizens to fill out Form 7 and attend hearings — is both impractical and unjust for a large number of voters. “How can nearly 10,000 voters from Ernakulam alone complete the procedure within such a short window? This is a violation of citizens’ fundamental right to vote,” he added.
Voters have until August 7 to apply for rectification. Following this, public hearings will be held, and the final electoral rolls are expected to be published by August 31.
‘Building Number 0’: A Shocking Lapse
Adding fuel to the fire, M.G. Aristotle, UDF’s parliamentary party leader in the Kochi Corporation, highlighted a bizarre discrepancy in the voters’ list — over 500 voters have reportedly been listed under buildings assigned the number ‘0’. He called the lapse unprecedented and asked how such buildings could be tracked or even verified.
“In my own building, where only my mother and I reside, a third person — unknown to us — has been shown as a voter. This undermines the credibility of the entire list,” Aristotle stated, demanding immediate action to clean up the errors.
BJP Also Raises Red Flag, Threatens Legal Action
The BJP, which has been gaining ground in various urban pockets of Kerala, echoed similar concerns. P.S. Shaiju, Chairperson of the BJP city district committee, alleged a targeted displacement of BJP-supporting voters in divisions where the party had a realistic chance of winning.
“This isn’t a mistake. It’s sabotage,” Shaiju said, claiming that BJP voters were deliberately removed from crucial wards to manipulate the electoral outcome. “The process has been carried out with the full knowledge and involvement of election officials,” he alleged.
The BJP has also petitioned the District Collector, who functions as the District Election Officer. The party has issued an ultimatum, warning that if corrective measures are not initiated by Monday (July 28, 2025), they will approach the judiciary.
Growing Distrust in Electoral Process
The allegations come at a time when public trust in electoral transparency is already under strain. With opposition parties alleging a concerted effort to rig the rolls and CPI(M) remaining tight-lipped, political temperatures are expected to rise further.
Sources within the Election Commission have acknowledged receiving complaints but stated that due process is being followed and citizens still have time to rectify any issues.
CPI(M) Maintains Silence
As of now, the CPI(M) has not officially responded to the charges. However, political analysts believe the ruling party may downplay the allegations as opposition theatrics — a move that could further deepen suspicions.
“Whether the discrepancies are intentional or not, the scale of the errors indicates serious flaws in the system. What’s at stake is not just party politics but the faith of citizens in democracy itself,” said a senior political observer from Kochi.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
Elections are the lifeblood of any democracy, and voter lists are the foundation on which fair elections stand. When that foundation begins to crack — through carelessness or, worse, manipulation — democracy itself is endangered. The anguish of a voter seeing their name in the wrong ward or next to a stranger’s household isn’t just a clerical error; it’s a slap in the face of civic dignity.
What makes this situation particularly alarming is the wide scale and consistency of these “errors” in areas where the ruling party faces stiff competition. If electoral fairness is sacrificed at the altar of convenience or political gain, it signals a chilling future for democratic institutions in Kerala.
The people of Kochi — and the rest of India — deserve better. They deserve transparency, accountability, and above all, a system that doesn’t need Form 7 to prove their right to vote in their own homes.
Let the mistakes be corrected, and let democracy breathe.
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