Kishan Reddy directs BJP workers on SIR voter drive in Telangana
Synopsis
Union Minister and BJP Telangana chief G. Kishan Reddy has directed booth-level workers to assist eligible citizens in enrolling under the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, while flagging alleged fake voter registrations by AIMIM and Congress in Hyderabad's Old City.
Key Takeaways
Kishan Reddy , Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP Telangana state president, issued booth-level instructions to party workers on 18 July 2026 .
Workers have been asked to visit every household and help eligible citizens fill SIR (Special Intensive Revision) forms for voter enrolment.
Reddy called for daily evening reviews at the booth level to track the progress of the SIR exercise.
He specifically flagged Old City Hyderabad as a zone where workers must remain alert against alleged fake voter registrations by AIMIM and Congress .
BJP Secunderabad Mahankali District President Bharat Goud and other senior leaders participated in the programme with Reddy.
The drive is part of BJP's broader effort to rebuild booth-level strength in Telangana , where the party has been in opposition since the 2023 assembly elections .
Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP Telangana state president G. Kishan Reddy on Saturday, 18 July 2026, issued detailed booth-level instructions to party workers across Telangana, urging them to assist eligible citizens in enrolling as voters under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and to remain vigilant against what he described as fraudulent voter registrations, particularly in Hyderabad's Old City.
Context
Posting in Telugu on X, Reddy outlined a three-point directive for BJP ground workers. He asked booth-level volunteers to visit every household — ఇంటింటికీ బీజేపీ ('BJP to every home') — and help all eligible residents fill SIR forms to register as voters. He stressed that no genuine, eligible voter should be removed from the electoral list.
Reddy also called for daily evening reviews at the booth level to monitor the SIR process and ensure steady progress. He urged workers to 'move like soldiers' in the field for the protection of democracy and the strengthening of the party at the grassroots.
Policy Backdrop
The Election Commission of India periodically orders Special Summary Revision or Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, typically ahead of assembly or local body elections, to update voter lists by adding eligible new voters and removing ineligible entries. Political parties across the spectrum routinely mobilise workers during such exercises to ensure their support base is fully enrolled.
BJP has been in opposition in Telangana since the 2023 assembly elections, when the Indian National Congress came to power in the state. Since then, the party has intensified booth-level organisational activities as part of its effort to rebuild ground strength ahead of future electoral contests.
Stakeholders and Impact
Reddy specifically flagged Old City Hyderabad — a historic area with a large Muslim population where AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) holds strong influence — as a zone requiring heightened vigilance. He called on workers to 'effectively check' alleged fake votes being engineered by AIMIM and the Congress party in that area. Both parties have not publicly responded to these allegations.
Reddy noted that BJP Secunderabad Mahankali District President Bharat Goud, along with other senior leaders and party workers, participated in the programme alongside him. The drive targets booth-level workers as the primary unit of electoral mobilisation.
What's Next
The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the timeline and findings of the current SIR exercise, which will determine how many voters are added or removed from the rolls. Any claims or counter-claims filed by parties regarding alleged irregularities in the revision process will be a key development to watch. For BJP Telangana, the success of this booth-level drive will be seen as a measure of the party's organisational readiness for the next round of elections in the state.
Point of View
But its political subtext is pointed: by singling out Old City Hyderabad and naming AIMIM and Congress as sources of alleged electoral fraud, he is framing the SIR process as a battleground rather than a routine administrative exercise. This mirrors BJP's strategy in other opposition-ruled states, where voter-roll drives double as tools to energise cadre and draw contrasts with ruling parties. With Telangana's next assembly election still years away, the intensity of this mobilisation signals that BJP is treating the SIR window as an early opportunity to consolidate ground-level organisation. Whether the Election Commission registers any formal complaints arising from these allegations will determine if the political charge has any procedural consequence.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SIR voter drive that Kishan Reddy is talking about?
SIR stands for Special Intensive Revision, a process ordered by the Election Commission of India to update electoral rolls by enrolling eligible new voters and removing ineligible entries. Kishan Reddy has directed BJP workers in Telangana to assist eligible citizens in filling SIR forms during this revision exercise.
Why is BJP focusing on Old City Hyderabad in the voter drive?
Old City Hyderabad is a historic area with a large Muslim population where AIMIM holds strong electoral influence. Reddy alleged that AIMIM and Congress engineer fake voter registrations in this area and called on BJP workers to remain vigilant and counter such practices during the SIR process.
Is Kishan Reddy the BJP chief of Telangana?
Yes. G. Kishan Reddy serves both as Union Minister of Coal and Mines in the central government and as the president of the BJP's Telangana state unit.
What did Kishan Reddy ask BJP workers to do during the SIR drive?
He asked workers to visit every household and help eligible residents register as voters, conduct daily booth-level evening reviews of the SIR process, ensure no genuine voter is dropped from the rolls, and stay alert against alleged fraudulent registrations, especially in Old City Hyderabad.
Which party rules Telangana currently?
The Indian National Congress has been the ruling party in Telangana since the 2023 state assembly elections, with BJP in opposition.
