BRS Raises Alarm Over Irregularities in Hyderabad's SIR Voter Survey Programme

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi has raised red flags over the execution of the SIR voter survey programme, with party leaders claiming that the electoral authorities have hired inadequately trained personnel, among them sweepers, to serve as Booth Level Officers.

The controversy surfaced after Sanath Nagar MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav, a former minister, penned correspondence to the Chief Electoral Officer and the GHMC Commissioner detailing what he characterized as fundamental deficiencies in the programme's management.

On Wednesday, senior BRS functionary Gurram Pawan Kumar Goud handed over these letters to GHMC Commissioner Karnan, asserting that the Special Intensive Revision programme was being executed in a negligent fashion.

Goud alleged that ground-level operatives were failing to conduct thorough door-to-door surveys as required. He further contended that numerous field workers lacked familiarity with the app-based data collection systems and the voter mapping protocols essential to the exercise.

BRS leaders pointed out that certain field operatives were concurrently engaged in population census work rather than concentrating on the SIR voter survey, creating bewilderment among the public regarding the verification procedures underway.

The MLA convened a session with party agents stationed at booths on Wednesday to assess conditions on the ground. During this gathering, these agents relayed multiple operational hitches they had encountered within the survey framework.

Goud pressed the administration to provide clarity on whether the focus remained on the SIR voter survey or whether population census activities were being prioritized alongside it. He emphasized that authorities needed to issue unambiguous directives to resolve confusion among Booth Level Officers and the voting public.

The BRS contingent additionally highlighted deficiencies in staff preparation, noting that several field workers had not received adequate training regarding the survey's procedures and objectives. The party called for the election commission to undertake an immediate reassessment of how the programme was being rolled out.

The delegation that accompanied Goud to meet with the Commissioner included Bansilalpet division president Venkatesan Raju, Shailender, and Mukka Srinivas.