BRS Slams 'Vote Chori' in Telangana: Alleges Lapses in Graduate Voter Enrolment
BRS spokesperson Manne Krishank slams Congress over alleged irregularities in Telangana graduate voter enrolment and demands a deadline extension.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has raised serious concerns over the Telangana graduate voter enrolment process for the Legislative Council elections, alleging significant administrative failures and irregularities. BRS spokesperson Manne Krishank has called upon the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to formally extend the current November 6 deadline, arguing that the process is riddled with shortcomings that are disenfranchising eligible voters.
Accusations of 'Double Standards' Against Congress
Taking a swipe at the ruling Congress party, Manne Krishank accused them of hypocrisy regarding electoral integrity. He pointed out that while Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership frequently campaign nationwide against "vote chori" (vote theft) and advocate for "vote bachao, desh bachao" (save the vote, save the country), similar malpractices are allegedly occurring right in Telangana.
"Rahul Gandhi ji and the entire Congress party make a lot of noise about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and voting practices... But every time there is an electoral exercise in Telangana, similar malpractice occurs," Krishank stated.
The 'Null and Void' Voter Crisis
One of the most alarming claims made by the BRS spokesperson is the alleged erasure of existing voter data. Krishank claimed that approximately five lakh voters who were previously enrolled in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, and Mahabubnagar have seen their registrations rendered null and void. These individuals are now being asked to undergo the entire enrolment process from scratch.
Bureaucratic Hurdles and Digital Failures
Despite the official push for digital enrolment, the BRS alleges that the ground reality is far different. According to Krishank, eligible graduates are facing a redundant and exhausting verification process:
- Manual Verification: Voters are reportedly being asked to physically appear before Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to present their certificates.
- Double Verification: Following the BLO visit, voters must undergo another round of verification by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
- Lack of Information: Many voters remain unaware of which specific BLO has been assigned to them, making the process nearly impossible for those who cannot dedicate excessive time to administrative hurdles.
Demand for Deadline Extension
The BRS has formally requested the CEO to push the November 6 deadline further back. Krishank highlighted a staggering drop in registration numbers, claiming that the current number of enrolled voters is not even one-tenth of what was recorded during the previous enrolment exercise.
While the spokesperson mentioned that the CEO has verbally indicated an extension might be possible, he stressed that this decision must be officially announced and placed on the public record to ensure transparency.
Lack of Awareness and 'Political Theatrics'
The BRS further criticized the Election Commission for a complete lack of outreach, stating there has been "zero campaign, zero motivation, and zero awareness" to encourage eligible graduates to register.
Concluding his remarks, Krishank accused the Congress government of engaging in "theatrics" and using electoral issues for political gain rather than sincerely addressing the administrative shortcomings that are hindering the democratic process in Telangana.