YSRCP questions accuracy of 2002 voters list used for SIR process

Vijayawada: Making serious irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Andhra Pradesh, YSRCP leaders claimed that the exercise was being conducted without transparency and with an intention to remove the names of opposition party supporters.Addressing the media here on Wednesday, former deputy chief minister Amjath Basha and former MLA S Raghurami Reddy alleged that there was a conspiracy to delete the names of YSRCP sympathisers and party workers under the pretext of the SIR exercise. They questioned the authenticity of the 2002 voters list, which is being used as a reference document for the revision process, stating that it contains several errors.

“The 2002 voters list itself has major mistakes, including the absence of the sitting MLA’s name. How can the accuracy of such a list be ensured?” they asked. The name of Settipalli Raghurami Reddy, who was legislator in 2002, was missing from the 2002 electors list.The YSRCP leaders alleged that villages and mandals where the party has a strong support base were being specifically targeted and names were being removed indiscriminately.

Former MLA Raghurami Reddy claimed that names of his family members and several villagers were missing from the electoral rolls despite them continuing to reside at the same addresses.They further alleged that several door numbers were missing in the 2002 voters list, creating confusion among voters during the SIR process. The leaders said the lack of clarity and proper verification raised doubts over the intention behind the exercise.

The Opposition leaders also alleged that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were not conducting door-to-door enumeration properly and, in some cases, lacked adequate understanding of filling up the required forms.

They said this could lead to genuine voters being excluded from the rolls.Demanding corrective measures, the YSRCP leaders urged the Election Commission to release a revised and error-free 2002 voters list and ensure that the SIR process is conducted in a fair and transparent manner without targeting any section of voters.Meanwhile, YSRCP leader and former minister Sake Sailajanath alleged that the ongoing SIR process in the state was being conducted in a flawed manner and claimed that the ruling coalition was using the MyTDP app to facilitate voter deletions. Addressing the media, he demanded a transparent and democratic process. Sailajanath alleged political interference in field verification and misuse of voter data. He claimed similar attempts were made earlier during the Seva Mitra exercise and urged the Election Commission to protect voting rights and ensure an impartial SIR process.--