Is Telangana Set to Be a Model for SIR?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Telangana is set to lead in SIR for electoral rolls.
- The CEC emphasized the role of BLOs in the electoral process.
- Bihar's SIR process serves as a benchmark.
- Approximately 7.5 crore voters participated in Bihar's recent elections.
- India has over 90 crore voters across multiple regions.
Hyderabad, Dec 21 (NationPress) The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, announced on Sunday that Telangana is poised to set an example for the nation in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
During his address to booth-level officers (BLOs) here, he noted that Telangana will be included in the upcoming phase of SIR.
He emphasized that the success of the recent SIR process carried out in Bihar should serve as a model.
Labeling BLOs as the foundation of the Indian electoral framework, he remarked that the effectiveness of voter list cleansing hinges on their dedication and effort. He also pointed out that the global community is closely monitoring how India carries out its electoral processes.
The CEC asserted that the extensive SIR initiative in Bihar was executed flawlessly. He highlighted that around 7.5 crore voters participated in the recent Assembly elections, noting the absence of any complaints throughout the process, which eliminated the need for repolling or recounting. He praised the BLOs in Bihar for this achievement.
Gyanesh Kumar mentioned that Telangana's geographical area surpasses that of Canada and indicated that following the thorough voter list purification, the state's electoral administration would embark on a transformative journey.
In his dialogue with the BLOs, he identified voter disengagement in urban settings as a primary factor contributing to lower turnout. Conversely, he observed that rural voters are actively queuing to cast their votes, thereby leading by example for the rest of the country.
The Chief Election Commissioner reiterated that elections in India are conducted strictly according to established laws, which everyone must adhere to.
He added that India became a member of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) in 1995 and has since ascended to chairmanship after three decades.
This underscores the recognition of the Election Commission of India as a trustworthy and innovative election management authority on a global scale.
Regarding the vastness of Indian democracy, he revealed that the country comprises over 90 crore voters spread across 28 states and 8 union territories.
The State Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudarshan Reddy, during his opening remarks, provided critical statistics about Telangana, including the total voter count, districts, Assembly, and Parliament constituencies.
Others in attendance at the meeting included Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vasam Venkateswara Reddy, GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan, Senior Deputy CEC Pawan Kumar Sharma, Rangareddy District Collector Narayana Reddy, and several others.