G. Kishan Reddy Alleges MIM Interference in Hyderabad Electoral Roll Revision

Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy has raised serious concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Hyderabad. During a press briefing held on Saturday, the minister alleged that leaders of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) have been actively intimidating Booth Level Officers (BLOs) who are currently tasked with essential election duties.

According to the allegations brought forward by G. Kishan Reddy, these officials are facing pressure to prevent them from conducting standard door-to-door surveys. It is further claimed that there is an insistence that voter registration forms must be distributed exclusively through channels managed by the MIM. The minister warned that attempting to influence the Special Intensive Revision process under political pressure poses a significant threat to democratic integrity.

Implications for Election Integrity and Voter Rights

Addressing the media, G. Kishan Reddy voiced strong objections to remarks made by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy concerning the electoral exercise, suggesting that such rhetoric could inflame specific segments of society. He criticized the tendency to introduce religious narratives into the administrative process of updating voter rolls, labeling such efforts as entirely inappropriate. The minister emphasized that regardless of pressure from high-ranking state officials or local representatives, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stands firmly with the election staff.

The minister urged government employees involved in the Special Intensive Revision to perform their duties with courage and impartiality, reassuring them of full support. Reflecting on past data, he noted that electoral revisions in states like West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu resulted in increased participation, which he attributed to heightened public awareness and the systematic purging of duplicate entries from the records.

Furthermore, G. Kishan Reddy addressed concerns regarding the presence of illegal migrants in the city. He alleged that individuals, including Rohingya, Bangladeshi nationals, and others who entered the country illegally from Pakistan, have managed to secure identity documents like Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, and ration cards. He insisted that removing these anomalies is a core constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission.

Additionally, the minister condemned the alleged diversion of BLOs for non-electoral tasks, specifically citing reports that these officials were being used for the distribution of Indiramma saris. Stating that the BJP has officially lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, he demanded strict action against the misuse of administrative staff and the irregular issuance of identity cards in the name of the state government rather than the electoral body.

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