Telangana electoral roll revision controversy

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Telangana has faced criticism regarding voter deletion processes and demographic discrepancies. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi initially demanded a four-week extension for voters to file claims and objections, arguing that the Election Commission’s 21-day extension was insufficient. Owaisi raised concerns over the criteria used for notices, alleging that certain individuals were targeted and that living persons were incorrectly marked as deceased. Data from Hyderabad indicated that in some Old City constituencies, such as Charminar, Chandrayangutta, and Bahadurpura, Muslim names accounted for 63 to 86 per 100 flagged electors.

As the situation progressed, Owaisi characterized the SIR as a “backdoor NRC,” warning that the revised lists could facilitate the implementation of the National Register of Citizens and lead to the loss of voting rights and citizenship. He also criticized the documentation burden on vulnerable voters and suggested the Election Commission has fallen under executive control. The controversy drew a response from Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who accused Owaisi of not believing in the Constitution. While reports indicated that some Election Commissioners had raised objections regarding SIR procedures, the Election Commission has maintained that its decisions are legal and unanimous.