KTR seeks judicial probe into SIR, demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

The BRS plans to protest outside the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer’s office on October 10, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao have called for an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities in electoral roll revision

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has demanded a judicial probe under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge into alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and sought Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. He raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the SIR process, including large-scale deletions of voters in constituencies represented by BRS MLAs.

In a statement, Rama Rao said the Supreme Court should take suo motu cognisance of the alleged irregularities and order an independent judicial investigation. “Nothing is greater than the Constitution of India. And no Indian citizen can be stripped of their right to vote. Gyanesh Kumar must go. No individual is above the institution,” he said in a post on X.

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Questioning attempts to protect the CEC, Rama Rao asked how one man could be considered greater than the rights of 1.4 billion Indians. “This nation has seen many individuals come and go, and it has stayed strong, it has survived beautifully. So why this desperation to protect one man?” he asked.

He asserted that the time was up for Gyanesh Kumar and for anyone trying to build a quasi-system that destroys the soul of the nation.

BRS Legislature Party deputy leader T Harish Rao said democracy was bigger than any individual or government and described the Election Commission as the backbone of Indian democracy, not a shield for those in power. “Gyanesh Kumar must take responsibility. If the Election Commission cannot command public confidence, the CEC must resign,” he said.

Citing Articles 324, 325 and 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951, he said the country needed a credible, impartial and inclusive electoral system. “No eligible voter can be arbitrarily denied their right to vote,” he said.

The BRS had planned protests at the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer’s office on Saturday. However, the programme has been postponed in view of the festive season, and the party has decided to organise a large-scale protest soon.