Hyderabad DCC seeks probe into alleged handling of voter forms by political workers
Hyderabad: Hyderabad District Congress Committee (DCC) President Syed Khalid Saifullah on Monday sought a Hyderabad DCC probe by the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana. He demanded an inquiry into allegations that political workers handled voter enrolment and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) forms instead of authorised election officials.
According to Khalid Saifullah, complaints from Charminar, Bahadurpura and Chandrayangutta raised serious concerns about the SIR exercise. He said voter enrolment forms contained sensitive electoral information. Therefore, only authorised election officials should handle them.
In Charminar Assembly constituency, Khalid Saifullah referred to Booth No. 29. He alleged that the Booth Level Officer told Congress representatives that a local MIM leader possessed the enrolment forms. Congress workers later visited the leader’s residence to verify the claim. They alleged that the leader misbehaved with them. Afterward, they lodged a police complaint.
Hyderabad DCC probe raises questions over SIR process
Khalid Saifullah said similar complaints had surfaced from Booth Nos. 31 and 32 in Charminar. He alleged that Booth Level Officers skipped mandatory door-to-door verification. He also claimed political workers participated in the process.
At Booth No. 219, Khalid Saifullah alleged that the Booth Level Agent did not answer phone calls. Instead, he claimed, a person identified as Asghar answered them. He alleged that Asghar, who was reportedly associated with the MIM, asked Congress representatives to visit his office at Pakeezah Hotel.
Hyderabad DCC probe seeks wider verification
The Congress leader also cited complaints from Chandrayangutta and Bahadurpura. He referred to Booth Nos. 102, 101, 109, 113, 117, 121, 170, 180, 203 and 301. He alleged that some Booth Level Officers refused to conduct door-to-door verification. He further claimed that MIM leaders answered their mobile phones.
According to Khalid Saifullah, Booth Level Officers must personally conduct house-to-house verification. They must also handle all voter records under Election Commission guidelines. He argued that political workers or private individuals should not collect, distribute or retain SIR forms.
He urged the Election Commission of India, the Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana and the District Election Officer, Hyderabad, to verify every complaint. He also asked them to recover any election material kept outside official custody. In addition, he sought an inquiry into how voter forms allegedly reached political workers.
The Congress leader demanded action against any Booth Level Officer, Booth Level Agent or political functionary who interfered with the SIR exercise. He also sought action against anyone who handled voter data without authority or obstructed voters and party representatives.
Finally, Khalid Saifullah said public confidence depended on an impartial election process. He added that the Hyderabad DCC would continue monitoring the exercise. The party would submit fresh complaints wherever it noticed alleged violations.