'Only Genuine Voters': Telangana BJP Slams Congress Over SIR Row
Telangana BJP chief Ramchander Rao accuses Congress of spreading a false narrative regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The political atmosphere in Telangana has intensified as the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President, Ramchander Rao, launched a scathing attack on the Congress party. The conflict centers around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Rao accusing the opposition of fabricating a "false narrative" to mislead the public.
Battle Over 'Vote Chori' Allegations
Speaking in Nirmal, Ramchander Rao addressed the allegations of 'vote chori' (vote theft) being propagated by the Congress party. He asserted that the Special Intensive Revision is a transparent process designed with a singular purpose: to ensure that genuine voters are included in the lists while bogus entries are systematically removed.
Rao highlighted that the BJP has been active on the ground through its latest initiative, 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy'. According to the state chief, this programme has seen massive public participation, signaling strong support for the party's efforts to clean up the electoral process.
Accusations of Double Standards
The BJP chief did not hold back in calling out the Congress party's perceived hypocrisy. He pointed out that similar electoral roll revision exercises were carried out during the period when the Congress party was in power.
"The Congress party is spreading a false narrative over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and vote chori. We condemn the attitude of the Congress party because the SIR exercise was also conducted during Congress rule. However, when the BJP is conducting it now, they are spreading falsehoods," Rao stated.
The Larger Political Context
This verbal spat in Telangana is part of a broader national friction between the BJP and the INDIA bloc. The tensions escalated following a high-voltage march led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Hyderabad on Monday, which served as part of a coordinated mass-mobilisation effort by the BJP across several states.
The Opposition's Stand
The controversy follows a massive rally organised by the INDIA bloc on November 1 at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. The 'Chalo Delhi' protest march saw a gathering of top opposition figures, including:
- Mallikarjun Kharge
- Sonia Gandhi
- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
- Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav
The opposition's protest was directed against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This rally followed a symbolic "impeachment" programme against the CEC held in the national capital on October 31, setting the stage for the current heated exchanges between the two political giants in Telangana.