Kozhikode Corporation Council demands Election Commission to withhold SIR

Kozhikode Corporation Council has requested the Election Commission of India to postpone the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters’ list in Kerala ahead of local body elections.

In the council meeting chaired by Deputy Mayor CP Musafar Ahamed on Friday, October 31, 2025, the adjournment motion submitted by Opposition leader KC Shobhita was discussed. While the motion was unanimously supported by UDF and LDF councillors, six BJP councilors opposed it.

Ms. Shobhita argued that the SIR was implemented in such a way that the voter had to prove that he deserved to be included in the electoral rolls. On the other hand, BJP council member CS Sathyabhama said that in many places, Bangladeshi and Rohingya refugees are included in the voter list, and it is necessary to eliminate them and include only Indians in the list. Earlier, the Deputy Mayor had disallowed another adjournment motion proposed by BJP councilor Navya Haridas.

Various levels of solid waste management were discussed through the suggestions presented at the meeting. Congress councilor SK Aboobakker pointed out that twin dustbins located in different parts of the city were overflowing with household garbage and suggested their removal. Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health S. Jayasree pointed out that public attitude towards garbage bins needs to be changed.

The waste management fiasco on the opening day of the Kozhikode waterfront food street was brought up by BJP councilor Saritha Parayeri. The Health Officer explained that this happened because the large crowd on the opening day did not care to use the bins available at the venue and scattered rubbish all over the beach. He said that the Food Street Management Committee was established and cleaning workers were assigned 24 hours a day in three shifts to manage waste in the food street. He also added that the Company plans to approach an agency to address the issue more effectively.

IUML councilor K. Moideen Koya asked about the status of dredging work in Kallai river. The council accepted over 170 items on the agenda in one of its last meetings before the local elections.