Kerala Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Monday, 29 June wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, urging his personal intervention in the reported blocking of passport renewal for veteran journalist and editor R. Rajagopal. The case has drawn sharp reactions from across Kerala's political spectrum, with both the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Opposition Left expressing concern over what they describe as a violation of citizens' rights.

Background: What Happened to Rajagopal

R. Rajagopal, a Malayali journalist who served as editor of a Kolkata-based national daily, reportedly had his passport renewal held up after an adverse police verification report from the Kolkata Police. His troubles are said to have begun after he was removed from the electoral rolls of Kolkata's Ballygunge Assembly constituency during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted earlier this year.

Rajagopal has reportedly challenged the deletion before the appropriate tribunal. According to reports, the Regional Passport Office subsequently asked him to appear for verification but scheduled the appointment only for 17 July — preventing him from travelling to California to attend his daughter's wedding.

What Satheesan Said

In a post on X, Satheesan confirmed he had written to the Bengal chief minister seeking urgent action. 'I have written to the Chief Minister of West Bengal requesting his urgent intervention in the reported denial of passport renewal to renowned journalist R. Rajagopal. According to reports, his passport renewal has been held up following an adverse police verification report from the Kolkata Police. I sincerely hope the matter is examined fairly and resolved,' Satheesan wrote.

He further urged Adhikari: 'I would like to request your good self to kindly look into the matter with urgency.'

Opposition's Allegations: SIR as a Political Tool

Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, described the reported denial as 'shocking' and said it raised serious questions about the consequences of the Special Intensive Revision. In a social media post, Vijayan alleged that Rajagopal may have been targeted due to his longstanding criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and accused the Centre of using the SIR as a tool to selectively disenfranchise citizens.

'If this is the experience of a journalist of Rajagopal's stature, one can only imagine the plight of ordinary citizens,' Vijayan said. He further alleged that the electoral roll revision was being used to advance what he called a divisive Hindutva agenda, and maintained that citizenship and civil rights could not be made contingent on the revision process. He called upon those committed to democratic values to oppose any action undermining constitutional rights.

Broader Political Significance

Notably, the Rajagopal passport case has produced a rare moment of convergence between Kerala's ruling UDF and the Opposition Left — two formations that are otherwise fierce political rivals — both raising alarms over the treatment of the veteran journalist, albeit from different vantage points.

Critics argue the case illustrates the potential for the Special Intensive Revision process to have cascading consequences beyond electoral rolls, affecting fundamental rights such as travel documentation. The controversy is expected to intensify ahead of the 17 July passport verification date, and all eyes are now on whether West Bengal's government responds to Satheesan's appeal.