Political Parties Voice Concerns Over Hyderabad's Electoral Mapping Progress
Political parties in Telangana have raised significant concerns regarding the ongoing pre–Special Intensive Revision (SIR) mapping exercise, particularly in Hyderabad, during a crucial meeting with Chief Electoral Officer C Sudharshan Reddy on Friday. The meeting, held at the CEO's office, brought together representatives from recognized national and state political parties to discuss the challenges facing the electoral preparation process.
Address Mismatches and Training Deficiencies Highlighted
Party representatives pointed out that identifying voters in numerous parts of Hyderabad has become increasingly difficult due to discrepancies between the 2002 electoral rolls being used as the base for the SIR exercise and current residential addresses. They emphasized that house numbers from two decades ago no longer match present locations because of extensive urban development and administrative changes over the years.
Furthermore, political parties expressed serious concerns about inadequate training provided to booth-level officers (BLOs), stating that this deficiency is causing substantial difficulties in voter verification and ground-level search processes, especially within Hyderabad's complex urban landscape.
Hyderabad Lagging Behind State Average
Chief Electoral Officer Sudharshan Reddy acknowledged that Hyderabad is significantly behind in the mapping exercise, with the city recording only 31% progress compared to the overall state average of approximately 60%. He urged political parties to extend their full cooperation to accelerate the mapping process in Hyderabad, emphasizing the importance of timely completion as the Election Commission of India intensifies preparatory work for the upcoming SIR of electoral rolls in Telangana.
Clarifications on Procedures and Requirements
During the meeting, a detailed presentation on the SIR exercise was made, and various doubts raised by party representatives were addressed. Political party representatives specifically sought identity cards for booth-level assistants and requested clarity on whether Aadhaar was mandatory for the electoral exercise.
In response to these queries, Sudharshan Reddy clarified that booth-level assistants should be appointed by political parties themselves, and their identity cards would consequently need to be issued by the respective parties. He further explained that Aadhaar is merely one of several accepted identity documents and is not compulsory for the mapping exercise, providing important clarification on procedural requirements.
Broader Context of Electoral Preparation
The discussion of these issues occurs as election authorities are stepping up preparatory work for the comprehensive revision of electoral rolls in Telangana. The Special Intensive Revision represents a critical phase in ensuring accurate voter registration ahead of future electoral processes, making the resolution of these concerns particularly urgent for maintaining electoral integrity and participation.
Political parties have emphasized that addressing these logistical and training challenges is essential for ensuring fair and transparent electoral processes in Hyderabad, which serves as a major urban center with complex demographic patterns and rapid urban transformation that has complicated traditional voter identification methods.
