CM Revanth Reddy Urges ECI to Ensure No Eligible Voter Is Removed from Telangana Rolls

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to put stronger safeguards in place during the Special Intensive Revision ( SIR) of Telangana’s 2026 electoral rolls, stressing that no eligible citizen should lose their right to vote because of procedural errors or lack of adequate notice.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Revanth Reddy said the exercise must prevent ineligible entries while ensuring that genuine voters are not excluded. Telangana had 3.38 crore registered voters as of June 10, 2026, of whom 73.39 lakh were identified as absent, shifted, deceased or duplicate voters. He expressed concern that 45.19 lakh had been classified as permanently shifted.

Of the 2.65 crore digitised enumeration forms, 60.50 lakh contained discrepancies, while 32.36 lakh could not be linked to previous electoral rolls, potentially requiring notices to nearly 92.86 lakh voters almost one-third of the state's electorate.

The Chief Minister said temporarily absent voters should not be treated on par with those who have permanently relocated. Those who have shifted should be assisted in registering at their new address through Form 6, while names should not be deleted from previous rolls without a proper notice process. Otherwise, voters may learn of their deletion only on polling day, violating the principles of natural justice, he warned.

Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Rangareddy districts account for 58.6% of ASDD cases and 41.9% of scrutiny notices, with urban voters potentially affected by jobs, marriage and temporary relocation.

Revanth Reddy sought a four-week extension beyond the August 17–September 16 period for objections and grievances, along with a revision of the proposed October 19 final-roll publication date. He suggested awareness campaigns and at least two rounds of Gram Sabha and ward committee meetings.

Daily wage earners, migrant workers and senior citizens should receive three to four weeks to submit documents, he said, while urban areas should have constituency- and polling-level help centres. He also sought wider acceptance of documents beyond the Family Registration Certificate under GO 172.

With Hyderabad averaging over 78,000 cases per Assembly constituency, the Chief Minister requested additional officials and decentralised hearing centres, assuring the ECI of the state government's full cooperation.