Telangana Congress urges CEO to slow down SIR process, cites West Bengal
Synopsis
Telangana Congress has formally pushed back against the pace of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, citing West Bengal as a cautionary tale where a hurried SIR allegedly cost a party its election. With no Telangana election for two years and the Census running concurrently, the Congress is demanding a phased 1.5-to-2-year timeline — and mandatory written notice before any voter is struck off the rolls.
Key Takeaways
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud met CEO C.
Sudharshan Reddy in Hyderabad on 15 May to demand a slower SIR process.
Congress wants the Special Intensive Revision spread over 1.5 to 2 years , not completed in 2 to 3 months .
Goud alleged the SIR contributed to a change of government in West Bengal , warning of similar risks in Telangana.
The party demanded a minimum 7 days' written notice before deleting any voter's name, served personally or with witnesses.
Booth-level officers should visit every household 3 to 4 times for verification, the delegation urged.
The delegation included Minister Ponnam Prabhakar , MP Anil Kumar Yadav , and MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy .
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud on Friday, 15 May urged the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C. Sudharshan Reddy not to rush the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, warning that a hurried process could trigger confusion and public distrust, as it reportedly did in other states. A Congress delegation submitted a formal memorandum to the CEO at his office in Hyderabad.
Congress Delegation and Key Demands
The delegation, led by Mahesh Kumar Goud, included Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Member of Parliament Anil Kumar Yadav, and MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy. The memorandum called for the SIR to be conducted in a fair, transparent, and impartial manner, and demanded that the process be spread over 1.5 to 2 years rather than completed within 2 to 3 months.
Goud also demanded that the response period for any notice issued under the SIR be extended to three months, and that booth-level officers visit every household three to four times for verification before any entry is altered or deleted.
West Bengal Cited as a Cautionary Example
Addressing the media after the meeting, Goud alleged that the SIR process had directly influenced the change of government in West Bengal. 'The party which should have won the election suffered defeat because of the Special Intensive Revision,' he said. The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee's written representation echoed this concern, noting that the SIR had been 'conducted carelessly immediately before elections in several states, resulting in confusion, anxiety, and distrust among citizens.'
Timing and Administrative Burden
Goud argued that with no election scheduled in Telangana for the next two years, there is no justification for urgency. He also flagged that the Census is currently under way, and conducting the SIR simultaneously would place undue pressure on administrative staff. The Congress party urged that the two processes not overlap.
Safeguards Demanded for Voter Deletions
The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee's representation stressed that before deleting any voter's name from the rolls, a minimum of 7 days' written notice must be served personally or through a documented process in the presence of witnesses. It pointed to instances in other states where deletions were allegedly made without proper notice, sometimes based on hearsay or unverified home visits. The party said adequate time would facilitate the resolution of objections, reduce public apprehension, and ease administrative pressure. With voter numbers having grown significantly since 2002, the Congress called for a meticulous, phased approach to the revision.
Point of View
However, is the concern about concurrent Census and SIR operations straining district-level staff. The demand for a 7-day written notice before voter deletion is a reasonable safeguard that aligns with best practices in other democracies. The real test will be whether the Election Commission of India's guidelines — not party pressure — ultimately govern the pace and rigour of the process.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision is a comprehensive exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update voter lists — adding eligible new voters, correcting entries, and deleting those no longer eligible. It involves door-to-door verification by booth-level officers and is distinct from routine annual summary revisions.
Why is the Telangana Congress opposing a quick SIR?
The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee argues that a rushed SIR risks erroneous voter deletions and public distrust, citing alleged precedents from other states including West Bengal. With no Telangana election scheduled for two years, the party says there is no urgency to compress the process into 2 to 3 months.
What specific safeguards has the Congress demanded?
The party has demanded a 1.5-to-2-year timeline for the SIR, a minimum 7 days' written notice before any voter deletion, booth-level officers visiting each household 3 to 4 times, and a 3-month window for citizens to respond to notices.
Who led the Congress delegation to the Chief Electoral Officer?
The delegation was led by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud and included Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, MP Anil Kumar Yadav, and MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy.
What is the Congress's concern about the Census overlap?
Goud pointed out that the national Census is currently being conducted simultaneously, and running the SIR alongside it would place excessive pressure on the same administrative staff, potentially compromising the quality of both exercises.
