Kishan Reddy backs Election Commission's SIR drive in Telangana
Synopsis
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy on June 25, 2026, backed the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Telangana, calling it a constitutional process and urging parties not to politicise it. BJP workers across the state are cooperating with the exercise.
Key Takeaways
Kishan Reddy publicly endorsed the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Telangana on June 25, 2026 .
The SIR is mandated under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and derives authority from Article 324 of the Constitution.
BJP MPs, MLAs and Karyakartas across Telangana are actively cooperating with the Election Commission in the SIR process.
The exercise is being conducted under the guidance of BJP National President Nitin Nabin and Telangana BJP State President N.
Kishan Reddy cautioned that politicising the SIR undermines public confidence in democratic institutions.
The BJP asserts that while every eligible citizen must be on the voter list, duplicate, fake and illegal entries must be removed.
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday, June 25, 2026, voiced strong support for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway in Telangana, calling it a constitutional and statutory exercise essential to maintaining clean, accurate and credible voter lists. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader urged all stakeholders to cooperate with the Election Commission of India and cautioned against attempts to politicise the process.
Context
In his post on X, Kishan Reddy described the SIR as part of the Election Commission's established process of strengthening electoral integrity, stating that 'attempts to politicise this exercise or create unnecessary doubts only undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.' He affirmed that the BJP firmly believes every eligible Indian citizen must have the right to vote, while 'duplicate, fake and illegal entries have no place in our electoral system.'
The minister noted that BJP MPs, MLAs and Karyakartas across Telangana are fully cooperating with the Election Commission under the guidance of BJP National President Nitin Nabin and BJP Telangana State President N. Ramchander Rao.
Policy Backdrop
The Representation of the People Act, 1950 mandates periodic revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission to ensure accuracy and eliminate duplicate or ineligible entries. The Election Commission has conducted similar Special Summary Revisions and intensive exercises across multiple states ahead of Lok Sabha and assembly polls over the past decade.
The Commission derives its authority from Article 324 of the Constitution, which grants it superintendence over the preparation and maintenance of electoral rolls. These exercises are designed to capture new eligible voters, remove deceased or relocated entries, and weed out fraudulent registrations before elections.
Stakeholders and Impact
Telangana, a state formed in 2014, has seen competitive electoral politics between the BJP, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the Indian National Congress, and other parties. Voter roll revisions in such states routinely draw scrutiny from opposition parties who raise concerns about deletions or additions that could affect electoral outcomes.
Eligible voters stand to benefit from a cleaner roll that reduces the risk of impersonation and ensures their franchise is not diluted by duplicate or ghost entries. Civil society groups and party workers are typically enlisted to assist in booth-level verification during intensive revision exercises.
What's Next
The Election Commission is expected to publish progress reports on the Telangana SIR as the exercise advances, with final rolls to be published ahead of any upcoming electoral cycle. Opposition parties may file formal representations or petitions if they believe the revision process has been conducted unfairly.
Kishan Reddy concluded that 'a credible electoral roll remains the foundation of free, fair and transparent elections and safeguarding it is a collective democratic responsibility,' signalling the BJP's intent to remain engaged with the process at both the state and national level.
Point of View
The BJP insulates itself from any future allegations of obstructing or manipulating the process. The post also serves a pre-emptive function, framing any opposition criticism of the SIR as an attempt to 'politicise' a neutral constitutional exercise — a framing that could blunt attacks if deletions from the rolls become contentious. Broader pattern: ahead of state and national polls, parties that visibly align with Election Commission processes tend to occupy the credibility high ground in public discourse.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Telangana?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a statutory exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to update voter lists by adding eligible new voters and removing duplicate, deceased or ineligible entries. In Telangana, the 2026 SIR is currently underway with political parties and booth-level workers assisting in verification.
Why did G. Kishan Reddy comment on the electoral roll revision?
As BJP Telangana State President and Union Minister, G. Kishan Reddy posted on X on June 25, 2026, to affirm the party's cooperation with the Election Commission's SIR process and to warn against attempts to politicise what he described as a constitutional and statutory exercise.
Is the Election Commission's voter roll revision a new process?
No. The Election Commission has conducted similar Special Summary Revisions and intensive exercises across multiple states over the past decade ahead of Lok Sabha and assembly elections. The process is part of the Commission's routine mandate under Article 324 of the Constitution.
Who is overseeing BJP's participation in the Telangana SIR?
According to Kishan Reddy's post, BJP's participation in the Telangana SIR is being guided by BJP National President Nitin Nabin and BJP Telangana State President N. Ramchander Rao, with MPs, MLAs and party workers cooperating at the ground level.
What happens after the Special Intensive Revision is completed?
After the SIR is completed, the Election Commission publishes the revised final electoral rolls. Opposition parties or individuals may file formal representations or petitions if they believe the process was conducted unfairly, and the updated rolls are then used for subsequent elections.
