Telangana CM Revanth Reddy warns Congress leaders on SIR voter roll negligence
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday, 24 June issued a stern warning to Congress party leaders in the state, threatening replacement of constituency in-charges who fail to act on the party's directives regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The warning came amid reports of possible deletion of genuine voters from the voter list ahead of the enumeration exercise.
What the Chief Minister Said
Addressing a Zoom meeting with party leaders, CM Reddy instructed Ministers, MLAs, MPs and constituency in-charges to remain extra vigilant during the SIR process. He made clear that underperforming in-charges would be replaced. 'We will not tolerate any negligence and are observing the performance of the in-charges for 10 days,' the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) quoted him as saying.
Reddy also called on party Sarpanches to organise awareness drives in villages and stated he had already received district-wise reports on SIR awareness meetings. He emphasised that in-charge ministers would be entrusted with greater responsibilities to ensure the meetings are effective.
Why Voter Deletions Are a Concern
The Chief Minister stressed that the voting rights of the poor are directly at stake. He warned that if poor voters are removed from the electoral rolls, they risk losing not only their franchise but also their Aadhaar and ration cards — critical documents tied to welfare entitlements. This concern lends the SIR process an urgency that goes beyond electoral politics into basic civic rights.
Notably, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud flagged the deletion of voters in West Bengal as a cautionary example, urging party cadres to stay alert to similar strategies by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Key Leaders at the Meeting
The Zoom meeting was attended by TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC in-charge for Telangana Meenakshi Natarajan, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, AICC Secretary Sachin Sawant, and other senior leaders. Goud underlined that Congress cadres have a pivotal role in protecting the rights of genuine voters and must remain vigilant.
What Happens Next
The meeting was held a day before the formal launch of the enumeration exercise in Telangana by the ECI. Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) are set to conduct door-to-door verification across the state from 25 June to 24 July. The Congress leadership's mobilisation signals that the party intends to monitor the process closely and contest any deletions it deems unjustified.