Demand for SIR deadline extension grows in TG
Hyderabad: After the Election Commission of India (ECI) has extended the last date for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Andhra Pradesh, the demand for similar extension has grown in the state with both the ruling and the opposition parties echoing the same demand with many voters yet to submit their enumeration forms.
Hyderabad In-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, along with party leaders met the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C Sudarshan Reddy on Tuesday and requested him for an extension of the deadline for the voter revision process in Telangana.
Ponnam Prabhakar said that the voter revision process was proceeding at a snail’s pace across Telangana, particularly in the 15 Assembly constituencies of Hyderabad district.
On average, only 21 per cent of the voter revision process has been completed in the district. “There are only 10 days left and we have requested an extension of this deadline. I, along with our MLCs, MLAs, and DCC presidents, met with the Election Commission officials.
There are 4,500 polling stations centered in Hyderabad. The voter revision process was not being conducted effectively in urban areas.
We have requested that students in Hyderabad should be involved in the process. We are receiving complaints that BLOs (Booth Level Officers) are not visiting homes. They are also not properly distributing the necessary forms,” said Prabhakar.
The Minister also brought to the notice of the CEO that payments to BLOs across the state had not been made. “Ten days is insufficient time. BLOs are facing challenges at the field level.
We urge the authorities to enlist the cooperation of engineering colleges, government teachers, and the GHMC in Hyderabad,” said Prabhakar.
The SIR process in Andhra Pradesh was to end on Tuesday, but the ECI had extended the last date by another ten days. The SIR in Telangana is scheduled to be completed by July 24.
According to the office of the CEO, out of total 3,38,26,448 voters in the state, only 1,66,70,610 (49.28 per cent) voters have submitted their enumeration forms.
The officials said that only 10 days’ time is left for submission. The officials have asked the voters to hurry up and submit their Enumeration Form by Tuesday itself.
While the office of the CEO states that 100 per cent distribution of forms was finished in Hyderabad, there were many people in some areas who did not receive their forms till now.
Meanwhile, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Freedom Party Telangana Pesident Dr N. Suman also urged the CEO to extend the last date for the SIR process.
The BRS ‘SIR’ Coordination Committee members led by Karne Prabhakar, met the CEO. Prabhakar alleged that BLOs were not functioning effectively at the field level.
