BRS Alleges Congress, BJP May Misuse SIR, Urges Cadre to Guard Votes

Hyderabad, Apr 16 (TNT): The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the main opposition in Telangana, on Thursday alleged that the Congress and the BJP could misuse their power during the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state and called upon party cadre to remain vigilant.
Addressing party leaders through a teleconference, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR), stressed that every vote must be protected at the booth level.
He warned of the possibility of bogus voter registrations and manipulation of electoral rolls during the revision exercise.
KTR urged BRS workers to closely monitor the SIR process, stating that both the ruling Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party may attempt to influence voter lists.
He alleged that similar practices had been reported in other states, where opposition votes were deleted during electoral roll revisions.
He also referred to past elections in Telangana, including the Jubilee Hills by-election and certain municipal polls, claiming that bogus votes had benefited rival parties.
Emphasising preparedness, KTR instructed party leaders to appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) in a systematic manner and ensure coordination with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) as per guidelines.
He said details of appointed BLAs should be submitted to authorities and the Election Commission without delay.
He further announced that the party would organise training programmes to equip BLAs with the required knowledge for the SIR process.
KTR called for enrolling all eligible youth who have attained 18 years of age, while simultaneously identifying and removing ineligible or fake voters.
He said the SIR exercise should be utilised effectively for corrections and strengthening of the voter list.
Warning that the SIR exercise could commence within a week to ten days and conclude swiftly, KTR urged party cadre to begin groundwork immediately, including verification and corrections of electoral rolls.
He directed MLAs and constituency in-charges to ensure strong coordination from booth level upwards, describing the SIR as crucial for upcoming elections.
Reiterating concerns over alleged misuse of power in similar exercises elsewhere, KTR called on party ranks to ensure transparency and fairness in the voter list revision process.
He urged cadre to safeguard the voting rights of citizens and prevent any irregularities, stressing that protecting every vote is essential to upholding democratic values.
TNT TS