Overview Binoy Viswam , the State secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) , has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of leveraging its political power at the Centre to undermine the Election Commission of India (EC) . The accusation centers around the alleged deletion of secular votes in several districts where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) anticipates a favorable outcome in the 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala. Key Allegations Arbitrary Deletion of Voters: Mr. Viswam alleges that the EC has arbitrarily removed thousands of voters from electoral rolls in Assembly constituencies categorized as A+ and A by the BJP, indicating areas where the NDA projects strong performance. Specific Constituencies Affected: The constituencies mentioned include Kazhakuttom (43,395 deleted votes) , Vattiyoorkavu (54,000) , Nemom (49,000) , Attingal (16,000) , Kattakada (22,233) , and Manalur in Thrissur (20,000) . Farce of Special Intensive Revision (SIR): Mr. Viswam describes the EC’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a manipulated exercise designed to benefit the BJP electorally by suppressing anti-NDA votes. Past Instances: He claims the EC has previously aided the NDA in winning elections in Bihar , Assam , and Maharashtra by deleting voters and fraudulently adding BJP supporters from other regions using fake addresses. Concerns Raised Undue Haste: The EC is accused of displaying undue haste in finalizing the electoral rolls before the 2026 Kerala Assembly polls. Rejection of Demands: The EC allegedly rejected requests from political parties for more time to review the rolls. Flimsy Grounds for Disenfranchisement: Voters were allegedly disenfranchised on weak pretexts, such as absenteeism, untraceability, or being incorrectly classified as deceased. Response and Further Accusations Planned Protests: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) plans to organize large-scale protests against the EC’s denial of voting rights. Feudalistic Turn: Mr. Viswam criticizes the BJP’s State leadership, citing the State president’s unilateral declaration of candidacy from Nemom without proper party consultation. Secular Forces' Resolve: Secular forces aim to prevent the BJP from gaining a foothold in the Assembly. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to the UPSC syllabus under GS2: Polity and Governance . It touches upon the critical aspects of electoral processes, the role of the Election Commission, and potential challenges to free and fair elections. The allegations of voter disenfranchisement and political manipulation are particularly pertinent for understanding the dynamics of Indian politics and governance. Potential UPSC Questions Discuss the constitutional mandate and functions of the Election Commission of India. How can its independence be safeguarded? Evaluate the challenges to ensuring free and fair elections in India. What measures can be taken to address issues such as voter disenfranchisement and electoral roll manipulation? Analyze the role of political parties in upholding democratic values and ensuring the integrity of electoral processes.