Revanth Reddy calls anti-SIR fight another freedom movement at Delhi meet
Synopsis
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy took the anti-SIR campaign to Delhi, comparing it to India's freedom struggle and accusing the Modi government of conspiring with the Chief Election Commissioner to delete voters' names. The 'Vote Bachao... Desh Bachao' meeting at Telangana Bhavan signals the Congress and INDIA alliance are escalating this into a national-level battle over electoral integrity ahead of upcoming roll revisions.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy addressed a 'Vote Bachao...
Desh Bachao' meeting at Telangana Bhavan, New Delhi on 12 October 2026 .
He alleged the Modi government colluded with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to delete registered voters under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Revanth Reddy drew a parallel with the historic 'Simon Go Back' movement, calling the current struggle a second freedom movement for voting rights.
He criticised the Modi government's 2023 change to the election commissioner appointment process, which replaced the Chief Justice with the Union Home Minister on the selection panel.
The meeting was attended by Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka , TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud , AICC observer Sachin Sawant , and several MPs, MLAs, and MLCs.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday, 12 October 2026, declared that the ongoing campaign to protect citizens' voting rights is akin to a second freedom struggle, drawing a direct parallel with India's fight against British colonial rule. Speaking at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi at a meeting organised as part of the 'Vote Bachao... Desh Bachao' (Save Vote... Save Country) campaign, Revanth Reddy urged activists to raise slogans of 'Gyanesh Go Back' and 'SIR Go Back' — echoing the historic 'Simon Go Back' movement of the independence era.
The Core Allegation
According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Revanth Reddy alleged that the Modi government conspired with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to delete voters' names from electoral rolls under the cover of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He described this as 'Vote chori' — vote theft — and said the fight against it was being led by Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and leaders of the INDIA alliance.
The Chief Minister charged that the Modi-Amit Shah administration, unlike previous governments, was using the SIR not to include eligible voters but to remove existing registered voters from the rolls — a reversal, he argued, of the process's original constitutional purpose.
Historical Context of SIR
Revanth Reddy drew on the history of the SIR to underscore what he called its misuse. According to him, the SIR was first conducted in 1950 under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to grant voting rights to citizens, including those displaced by Partition. Subsequent exercises under the governments of Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee also focused on including eligible individuals who had been left out, not on removing those already enrolled.
'In contrast, under the current Modi-Amit Shah administration, attempts are being made to remove the names of people who already possess voting rights,' he said.
Election Commission Independence Under Scrutiny
The Telangana CM raised concerns about the institutional independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI), cautioning that deploying a constitutional body for political ends would erode public faith in democracy. He recalled that the Election Commission was originally headed by a single commissioner before a three-member structure was introduced during the P.V. Narasimha Rao government, which he credited with improving transparency.
He further noted that the convention for appointing election commissioners — involving the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Leader of the Opposition — was altered by the Modi government in 2023, replacing the Chief Justice with the Union Home Minister in the selection panel. He criticised this change as designed to tilt appointments in the government's favour.
Broader Pattern of Institutional Pressure
Revanth Reddy also alleged that the Centre had already weaponised agencies including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Income Tax Department, and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) against political opponents. He argued that the SIR was the latest instrument in that pattern — deployed after those agencies proved insufficient to neutralise political rivals.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, state ministers, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC observer Sachin Sawant, members of Parliament, MLAs, and MLCs.
What Comes Next
The 'Vote Bachao... Desh Bachao' campaign is expected to intensify across states ahead of scheduled electoral roll revisions. The Congress and INDIA alliance partners have signalled a sustained agitation, with the Delhi meeting indicating that the campaign is being coordinated at the national level. The Election Commission has not publicly responded to the allegations as of Monday.
Point of View
Not ceremonial, shift — and one that opposition parties had challenged even before the SIR row. Whether the campaign gains traction beyond the Congress base will depend on whether verifiable data on voter deletions emerges; allegations alone are unlikely to move the needle with an electorate already accustomed to institutional controversy.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and why is it controversial?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission to update electoral rolls. It is currently controversial because opposition parties, led by the Congress, allege that the current exercise under the Modi government is being used to delete the names of existing registered voters rather than to add eligible citizens — a reversal of its historical purpose.
What did Telangana CM Revanth Reddy say about the SIR at the Delhi meeting?
Revanth Reddy alleged that the Modi government conspired with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to remove voters' names under the SIR, calling it 'Vote chori' (vote theft). He compared the resistance to the SIR with India's freedom struggle, particularly the 'Simon Go Back' movement, and urged slogans of 'Gyanesh Go Back' and 'SIR Go Back'.
How has the process for appointing election commissioners changed under the Modi government?
According to Revanth Reddy, the Modi government changed the election commissioner appointment process in 2023, replacing the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with the Union Home Minister on the selection panel. Critics argue this change compromises the independence of the Election Commission.
What is the 'Vote Bachao... Desh Bachao' campaign?
'Vote Bachao... Desh Bachao' (Save Vote... Save Country) is a campaign launched by the Congress and INDIA alliance partners to protest what they describe as politically motivated deletions of voter names from electoral rolls. The 12 October 2026 meeting at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi was part of this national-level campaign.
How does the current SIR differ from past exercises, according to the Congress?
Congress leaders argue that previous SIR exercises — conducted during the Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Vajpayee governments — were aimed at including eligible voters who were left out, including those displaced by Partition. In contrast, they allege, the current SIR is being used to remove already-registered voters, undermining the constitutional right to vote.
