Training Gaps Among BLOs Will Be Addressed, Says Kerala CEO

Thiruvananthapuram: State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rathan U. Khelkar has stated that any lack of training among Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll will be resolved. He added that workers from Kudumbashree and other agencies will be utilized to support BLOs in the process.

“This exercise is not meant to put pressure on anyone. The intensive revision of the voters’ list is a constitutional obligation,” Khelkar said, speaking after a review meeting with political parties.

Regions such as Idukki and Kasaragod had requested that voter forms be made available in local languages. However, Khelkar clarified that since the forms are generated through centralized software, immediate changes are difficult. District Collectors have been instructed to seek assistance from individuals familiar with the local languages. The CEO also said that discussions have been initiated with NORKA to facilitate support for non-resident voters, and relevant materials have already been shared through the agency.

All major political parties—except the BJP—demanded that the SIR process be postponed due to the ongoing local elections. CPI(M) representative M. Vijayakumar said the Election Commission should not enforce the SIR without relief, as legal aspects related to the process are currently under consideration by the Supreme Court.

According to the Election Commission, 99.5% of enumeration forms have been distributed, and the process is expected to be completed by Sunday. Over 26 lakh forms have already been digitized. However, 1.20 lakh voters could not be traced. Detailed numbers will be shared with political parties.

Earlier, the CEO had stated that BLO-level meetings would be held to ensure that no eligible voter has been excluded from the list.