Press Club Hyderabad
Friday Evening Team
With TG Chief Electoral Officer
C Sudharshan Reddy
July
15, 2026, Hyderabad
Recognizing
the vital importance of a vibrant democracy and the need to safeguard every
citizen's most sacred democratic right: the Right to Vote, a group of
like-minded friends assembled at the Press Club Hyderabad on the forenoon of
July 15, 2026. The gathering resolved to meet Telangana State Chief Electoral
Officer (CEO) C Sudharshan Reddy to present a communication highlighting
several concerns relating to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of
electoral rolls. Responding promptly, the CEO graciously agreed to meet the
delegation at noon.
During
an interaction that lasted for over thirty minutes, the Chief Electoral Officer
patiently heard every issue raised by the delegation, ranging from individual
grievances to broader systemic concerns affecting society. His willingness to
understand the ground realities and his constructive response to the three key
proposals submitted by the team reflected both his openness and commitment to
strengthening the electoral process.
The
team of delegation consisted of: MLC Kodandaram, Senior Journalists Kondubhatla
Ramachandra Murthy, Mallepally Laxmaiah, Amar Devulapalli, A Saye Shekhar,
formerly with Door Darshan NV Hanumanth Rao and GK Murthy, Chartered Accountant
KD Prasad, Dentist Dr Aitharaju Bharat Babu, and PR Professional Vanam Jwala
Narasimha Rao.
The
discussions centred on various issues arising from the ongoing Special
Intensive Revision (SIR). These included deletion of names from electoral rolls:
including those of one or two members of the delegation, spelling errors in
voter records, difficulties in tracing voter details from the 2002 electoral
rolls, inconsistencies in multilingual entries, inadequate awareness and
training among a considerable number of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and, above
all, the growing anxiety among citizens regarding the continuity of their names
in the final electoral rolls.
The
delegation explained that an atmosphere of uncertainty currently prevails,
where many citizens are unsure whether their names will continue in the voters'
list or be inadvertently removed. It elaborated on both the practical and
procedural challenges associated with the revision process and stressed the
urgent need for corrective measures to protect every eligible citizen's
constitutional and democratic right to vote without discrimination.
The
interaction culminated in a broad consensus on three immediate and significant
issues that merit urgent consideration: Issuance of a Permanent Residence
Certificate, extension of timelines, and simplification of procedures to ensure
that every eligible adult citizen is able to secure and exercise the Right to
Vote without unnecessary hardship.
The
delegation proposed the issuance of a Permanent Residence Certificate, if not
for all official purposes, at least for establishing eligibility in matters
relating to electoral enrolment. Such a certificate, it was explained, would
substantially ease the burden on citizens while establishing their residential
status for voting purposes.
It
was further pointed out that this measure would particularly benefit senior
citizens, computer-illiterate and semi-literate voters, who often face
considerable difficulty in completing lengthy forms distributed by Booth Level
Officers. The delegation also observed that many BLOs themselves require
greater procedural clarity and training, making a simpler and more
citizen-friendly verification mechanism both necessary and timely.
Chief
Electoral Officer C Sudharshan Reddy not only listened patiently to every issue
presented by the delegation but also actively shared several related concerns
that the Election Department is already addressing. He assured the members that
each suggestion and grievance placed before him would receive due consideration
and would be taken forward for appropriate action at the earliest.
Jwala
Narasimha Rao Vanam (Member of Team and Delegation)
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