'Elimination of migrants in Bihar SIR can cause manipulation in states like Kerala with high migrant population'

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has cautioned that the elimination of lakhs of migrant workers from Bihar electoral roll could even lead to manipulations in elections in states like Kerala having high numbers of migrant workers.

"If unprecedented acts like Special Intensive Revision (SIR) can happen in north India, it is a matter of time that such steps are taken in south Indian states too. The elimination of 35 lakh migrant workers from the electoral rolls in Bihar need to be seen with caution by states like Kerala having large numbers of migrant workers. Since the victory margins are quite narrow in Kerala, it is easy to manipulate," said Bhattacharya.

He was delivering the 24th N Narendran memorial lecture in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday in commemoration of journalist N Narendran.

Bhattacharya said that the election commission's statement that there was no complaint from any political parties over the revised Bihar electoral roll was a lie. "People who are eliminated from the list need to apply afresh. Each fresh application is indeed a complaint against the SIR," he said.

The CPI(ML) Liberation leader also stressed the need for a broader struggle against the BJP and Sangh Parivar forces. "Not just electoral understanding was required, but a broader struggle was required. The I.N.D.I.A bloc in the need of the hour," he said.

He also lamented that the anti-naxal operations of the Centre was an operation against the tribals as the Centre wanted to suppress the tribals who claimed their rights.