Latest news with #RathanU.Kelkar
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Survey in progress to identify reasons for voter apathy among youth
As Kerala moves towards an election season which will culminate with the Assembly elections next year, election officials here are on a mission to identify the reasons for voter apathy among young people and possible solutions. A youth voter participation survey is under way to find out the reasons for the perceived reluctance in the 18-30 age group to participate in the election process, Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan U. Kelkar said. It is expected that the results and suggestions emerging from the survey will help to improve both enrolment and participation in the elections by young people, according to him. 'We started the survey six weeks ago. From our side, we are trying to understand the minds of the youth in the 18-30 age bracket and why they are not coming to vote. The survey will remain open for around two more months. Our aim is to get at least 50,000 responses. So far we have received 6,500 to 7,000 responses,' Mr. Kelkar, who took charge as CEO, Kerala, in December 2024, told The Hindu. Initial responses to a questionnaire that was circulated suggest a lack of interest and awareness about the election process, Mr. Kelkar said. At the same time, young respondents have urged election officials to organise more interactive sessions and discussions and use college campuses and social media to reach out to them, he said. Steps are also being taken to open electoral literacy clubs on campuses that do not have them and strengthen existing clubs, Mr. Kelkar said. 'We are trying to promote enrolment of youngsters in the 18-19 age group through the clubs. We have already conducted a meeting with educational institutions in the districts. We will also be talking to student organisations, residents' associations and the managements of self-financing colleges,' he said. The campaign among the youth is part of a larger exercise meant to improve voter enrolment, especially among sections that may face difficulty in electoral participation. Here, the focus is on the five sections, namely, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), Scheduled Caste communities, persons with disabilities (PwD), senior citizens above 85 years, and transgender voters, according to Mr. Kelkar. 'Our intention from the beginning has been that we should have 100% enrollment of certain categories, which is possible,' he said. As part of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, Mr. Kelkar's office is liaising with government departments, including the departments for SC Welfare, Social Justice and Revenue, to reach out to these sections. The important thing is making sure that no one is left out of the electoral process, he said.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala's Delimitation Commission issues final notification on ward restructuring in municipalities and Corporations
The State Delimitation Commission has issued the final notification on the ward delimitation carried out in the 86 municipalities and six Corporations in Kerala. With this, the first phase of the ward delimitation exercise in local bodies is over. The decision was finalised by the Commission headed by A. Shajahan, who is also the State Election Commissioner. The Kerala government had earlier issued a notification revising the number of wards in the municipalities and Corporations. As per that decision, municipalities should have a minimum of 26 wards and a maximum of 53. In Corporations, it was fixed as, respectively, 56 and 101. Consequently, the number of wards in municipalities have risen by 128 and that in the six Corporations, by seven. The revision was based on the decennial census held in 2011. Now that phase 1 is over, the 941 grama panchayats in Kerala have a total of 17,337 wards, the 87 municipalities have 3241 wards and the six corporations, 421 wards. The final notification on the delimitation can be accessed on the State Printing department's e-gazette website The new voters lists where the electors are reassigned in line with the delimited wards will be prepared by the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). The State Election Commission, which is tasked with the conduct of elections to local bodies, has issued directions for arranging polling stations to match the changes in voter strength. Block panchayats are covered in phase II of the ward delimitation exercise. The draft notification related to this phase will be issued on May 30. Delimitation Commission members Rathan U. Kelkar, K. Biju, S. Harikishore and K. Vasuki were present at the meeting.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nilambur bypoll in Kerala: Polling to be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 19
Polling will begin at 7 a.m. and conclude at 6 p.m. for the byelections to the Nilambur Assembly constituency on June 19, Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan U. Kelkar said. The notification for the bypoll was issued on Monday. The polled votes will be counted from 8 a.m. on June 23. June 2 is the last date for filing nomination papers. The scrutiny will be held the next day. June 5 is the deadline for withdrawing the nomination papers. All procedures related to the bypoll will be completed by June 25. The randomisation of the electronic voting machines (EVM) will be held on May 31, Mr. Kelkar said. Candidates and political parties can make use of the Suvidha portal ( of the Election Commission of India for filing their applications for approval for rallies, meetings and use of vehicles.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala Chief Election Commissioner orders police probe against G. Sudhakaran over alleged 1989 postal ballot tampering
Chief Election Commissioner of Kerala, Rathan U. Kelkar, on Thursday (May 15, 2025) ordered a criminal investigation into veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader and former Minister G. Sudhakaran's statement that office-bearers of service organisations supporting his party had tampered with postal ballots to benefit the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate K. Devadas, who was contesting from the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency in 1989. Mr Khelkar stated that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had taken a serious view of the media reports regarding Mr Sudhakaran's controversial statement in Alappuzha. Mr Sudhakaran was the CPI(M)'s election commission secretary then. He said the party used the help of its service organisation members to collect postal ballots allotted to government staff on election duty. Mr Sudhakaran claimed that pro-CPI(M) service members tore open the postal ballots and altered 15% of the votes cast by government officials for the opposing candidate. He had also dared the ECI to register a case against him. The CEC directed the police to register a case under Sections 136 and 128 of the Representation of the People's Act 1951 and relevant provisions of the Bharathiya Nyaya Samhita immediately. He also sought a report from the District Election Officer, Alappuzha. Opposition parties had also demanded an investigation based on Mr Sudhakaran's claim.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Final electoral roll for Nilambur Assembly constituency has a little over 2.32 lakh voters
The final electoral roll for the Nilambur Assembly constituency, published on Monday ahead of the upcoming byelections, has 2,32,384 voters. The list has 1,18,889 female voters, 1,13,486 male voters and nine third gender voters, Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan U. Kelkar said. 'There are 374 overseas electors in the final roll. Notably, the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) coverage is at 100%, a testament to the efforts towards achieving a pure electoral roll,' Mr. Kelkar said. The bypoll in the constituency has been necessitated by the resignation of Independent MLA P.V. Anvar. The final electoral roll was published following a Special Summary Revision with April 1, 2025, as the qualifying date as per the schedule announced by Election Commission of India (ECI). Sindhu M.P., Assistant Electoral Registration Officer, Nilambur, handed over copies of final electoral roll to the representatives of recognised political parties. 263 polling stations It had been announced earlier that the constituency would have 263 polling stations, including 59 new ones. The electoral roll revision was conducted strictly in line with ECI guidelines and by following relevant Acts and Rules. In all, 6082 new electors were added during the revision process, while 2,210 names were deleted after intensive field verification, with active participation from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of recognised political parties, Mr. Kelkar said.
