Key Facts
Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has submitted a representation to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Telangana, raising several concerns regarding the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The process, according to Owaisi, could impose an unnecessary burden on voters and Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
Details of the Representation
In his representation, Owaisi pointed out that the enumeration forms are expected to contain only details from the 2025 electoral roll, requiring voters to manually fill in information from the 2002 electoral roll. He argued that data collected during the earlier pre-SIR mapping exercise should be used to generate pre-filled forms containing details from both rolls, thereby reducing inconvenience to voters and easing the workload of BLOs.
“It is also pertinent to mention that voters whose mapping was completed do not have their 2002 details, as the mapping was done on the BLO app, and no acknowledgement containing both 2002 and 2025 details was provided to them during the pre-SIR exercise,” he wrote. He requested that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) be issued to address such anomalies and enable the enrollment of such electors in the final roll.
Language and Document Concerns
The Hyderabad MP also sought the availability of enumeration forms in English and Urdu in addition to Telugu, noting that English is widely used in administration and public life in Telangana, while Urdu is the state’s second official language. He raised concerns over the limited list of documents currently accepted for verification, contending that some prescribed documents are either unavailable or not applicable in Telangana. He requested that commonly used government-issued documents such as PAN cards, driving licenses, and food security cards also be accepted.
Impact on the Poor
Speaking to the media, Owaisi said the move would affect the poor, who have only one significant strength: the right to vote. “If the poor are excluded from this, then what is left of democracy?” he asked. Responding to a question on whether the SIR exercise could have consequences beyond the electoral process, including loss of government benefits, property rights, or the ability to transfer property, he said such a scenario could not be ruled out.
“The BJP government in West Bengal has issued a memo or government order stating that those whose names are excluded following the SIR exercise will be denied all government benefits. Juxtapose that with the Supreme Court order, which stated that in cases where names are not included in the SIR, the Election Commission of India should forward those names to the competent authority. What would be the competent authority? The Ministry of Home Affairs. What will they do? They will ask those voters to prove their citizenship. Of course, that can happen.”
BLO Workload and Monsoon Challenges
Owaisi raised questions over whether BLOs would be able to cover all households and electors, given the exhaustive scope of work and the onset of monsoon, which he implied would create significant impediments for BLOs in reaching voters.
What Readers Should Know
- The SIR process is intended to update electoral rolls but may disenfranchise voters if not handled carefully.
- Owaisi has called for pre-filled forms, additional languages, and a broader list of accepted documents.
- The poor are most vulnerable to exclusion from the rolls, which could affect their access to government benefits.
FAQ
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
SIR is a process by which electoral rolls are revised intensively, often requiring voters to provide details from both current and past rolls to ensure accuracy.
Why did Asaduddin Owaisi submit a representation to the CEO?
He flagged concerns that the SIR process places unnecessary burden on voters and BLOs, and requested pre-filled forms, additional languages, and a broader list of accepted documents.
What documents did Owaisi propose be accepted for verification?
He suggested including PAN cards, driving licenses, and food security cards, in addition to the currently prescribed documents.