SIR is a constitutional mandate, not a party initiative: Telangana BJP chief

Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India is spearheading the SIR Constitutional Exercise as an institutional mandate rather than a political campaign, according to Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao.

Speaking at a BJP cadre gathering in Nagole on Friday, Ramchander Rao contended that Congress, BRS and AIMIM have been disseminating misleading narratives surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The exercise aims to cleanse electoral rolls by identifying and striking off duplicate registrations, fraudulent entries, and deceased voters while safeguarding legitimate voting rights.

Ramchander Rao rejected claims circulating among certain political quarters that communities would be disenfranchised through this process. He maintained that the verification mechanism targets only duplicate names, fraudulent registrations, and the deceased—not voters from any particular demographic. He further alleged that illegal Rohingya migrants had surfaced in voter databases, warranting their removal during the verification phase.

The BJP leader underscored that the Exercise operates within the framework of constitutional provisions and electoral law. He emphasized that only Indian citizens possess voting eligibility, while foreign nationals and undocumented immigrants must be excluded from electoral registers.

Ramchander Rao called upon grassroots BJP representatives to actively facilitate the voter verification campaign. Party workers were tasked with assisting qualified voters navigating the process and countering what he termed as disinformation about the initiative. He stressed the importance of public engagement in ensuring the SIR Constitutional Exercise proceeds smoothly across Telangana.