Posted at 4:04 AM IST
Hyderabad, June 17: Telangana SIR Exercise has emerged as a major political issue in the state, with Congress, BRS and BJP stepping up voter awareness campaigns ahead of the ongoing voter list revision exercise. Political parties are urging citizens to verify their details and cooperate with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to ensure that genuine voters remain on the electoral rolls.
The ruling Congress, opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have adopted differing positions on the voter verification exercise, which is aimed at updating electoral rolls ahead of future elections.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has urged Congress leaders and grassroots workers not to treat the exercise casually. Addressing party functionaries, he warned that negligence during the verification process could result in genuine voters being left out of the electoral rolls. He emphasised that the revised voter list could have a significant impact on future electoral outcomes.
Congress Warns Workers to Monitor Telangana SIR Process
Congress leaders have expressed concerns regarding migrant workers, voters residing away from their native places, and individuals who may not be available when Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visit for verification. Party workers have been instructed to assist voters in completing required formalities and ensure maximum participation in the process.
TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud also called on party cadres to remain vigilant, stating that eligible voters could face difficulties if they fail to respond during the verification exercise. He stressed the importance of checking voter details and cooperating with election officials.
BJP Defends Telangana SIR Process, Calls It Routine Exercise
Meanwhile, the BJP has strongly defended the SIR process. Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao accused Congress and BRS leaders of spreading misinformation and unnecessary fears among voters. According to him, voter list revision is a routine electoral exercise intended to remove duplicate, shifted, foreign and deceased voters from the rolls.
BRS Launches Awareness Drive on Telangana SIR Process
The BRS has also intensified awareness efforts among its cadre. Senior leaders have conducted training sessions explaining family mapping procedures and advising booth-level agents to coordinate with election authorities. The party believes proper family mapping can help ensure that genuine voters remain correctly linked to their households during verification.
Election authorities have clarified that the SIR exercise is designed to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls by identifying duplicate entries, deceased voters and individuals who have permanently relocated. Officials maintain that safeguards, correction mechanisms and objection procedures are available before the publication of final electoral rolls.
With all major parties mobilising their cadres, voter awareness has become a central focus across Telangana. Political leaders recognise that even minor changes in voter lists can influence electoral outcomes. As the revision process progresses, voter participation, document verification and public awareness are expected to remain key political issues in the state.
Mohammed Naseer Giyas is a multi-media and bilingual journalist with over 20 years of experience across print, digital, and television media. Founder of Raftaar-e-Deccan, he is an alumnus of IVLP, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and ICFJ, and has worked with leading English and Urdu news organisations.
