BRS seeks extension of SIR exercise

The BRS has urged the Election Commission to extend the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging lapses in implementation. The party claimed voter mapping was incomplete and warned that many eligible voters could face exclusion without additional time

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) reiterated its demand for an extension of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging lapses in its implementation. Cautioning that eligible voters risk being left out of the electoral rolls, the party decided to submit another representation to the Election Commission seeking an extension.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Monday, BRS SIR Coordination Committee member and MLC L Ramana said the party had constituted a nine-member committee, following directions from BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao and working president KT Rama Rao, to monitor the SIR process across the State. He alleged that voter mapping had not been carried out properly and that only about 37 per cent of the forms had been filled so far, necessitating an extension of the exercise.

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Former MLC Karne Prabhakar said the BRS had already submitted representations to the Election Commission and would meet its officials again with fresh suggestions. He alleged that the Election Commission was inadequately prepared for the exercise and stressed that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) must conduct door-to-door verification with the assistance of Booth Level Agents (BLAs). He also called for greater transparency, district-level reviews of complaints, and the removal of negligent officials.

BRS leader Y Satish Reddy said the SIR exercise had achieved only 13 per cent progress in Hyderabad and that around 50 to 60 lakh voters could receive notices due to lapses in the process. He warned that the deletion of even a single eligible voter’s name would undermine the democratic process and held the State government responsible for ensuring that no genuine voter lost the right to vote.