Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has urged voters in Kerala to set a model for the nation by ensuring 100% turnout in the upcoming legislative elections in the state.
Inaugurating the National Voter’s Day celebrations here on Sunday, Mr. Arlekar said Kerala, known for its high literacy rate and social reforms and progress made in the health and education sectors, should lead the nation in this regard. “That should be our goal,” he said.
The governor called on voters to exercise their right to vote in a free, fair and judicious manner. National Voter’s Day is not just a celebration but an effort to make people aware of their rights, he said. Kerala has 1,579 voters who are above 100 years of age and should be considered “icons”, the governor said.
Speaking on the occasion, State Election Commissioner A. Shajahan said the responsibility for a “clean and accurate” voter list went beyond constitutional bodies and described it as a shared civic duty. According to him, political parties, local administrators, bureaucrats and above all the citizens themselves must be actively involved in the process. He called the local body elections in 2025 – conducted by the State Electoral Commission – “proof of strong democratic commitment”. An accurate electoral roll, he said, ensures that every voter’s right to choose their representative is protected and that no person is disenfranchised through oversight or mistake, Mr. Shajahan said.
Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan U. Kelkar, who welcomed the gathering, said the theme of this year’s celebrations, ‘My India, My Voice’, reinforces the concept that democracy begins with the citizen. On the occasion, the Governor also inaugurated the ‘Virtual Reality Polling Booth’ and gave away prizes. District Collectors and Election Officers were present.
Published – 25 Jan 2026 21:11 IST
