Hyderabad: Revenue, Housing and Information Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy accused the BJP-led Central government of using the SIR exercise to target opposition parties and governments.
He made the remarks while addressing a training programme for Congress Booth Level Agents (BLAs) in Palair constituency on Friday.
The Congress party organised the awareness camp at PVR Gardens near Naidupeta Cross Road in Edulapuram Municipality.
Ponguleti alleged that the Centre was pursuing anti-democratic practices through the voter list revision process.
He claimed that the Special Intensive Revision programme could affect genuine voters in areas where Congress enjoys strong support.
According to him, authorities could classify many votes as invalid and remove them from electoral rolls.
SIR exercise becomes focus of Congress campaign
The minister claimed that minor differences in age details or spelling mistakes in names could result in voter deletions.
Further, he alleged that authorities had already used similar methods in other states.
He urged Congress workers to remain vigilant throughout the voter verification process.
Ponguleti also referred to the rejection of Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination.
He alleged that election authorities rejected her nomination despite her having adequate support.
According to him, the BJP used institutional mechanisms to deny Congress a Rajya Sabha seat.
Further, he accused the Centre of misusing agencies such as the CBI, ED and Income Tax Department.
He alleged that the ruling party used these agencies to intimidate elected representatives.
He also claimed that the BJP sought to destabilise non-BJP governments.
Meanwhile, the minister asked Congress workers to closely monitor the voter-mapping exercise from June 25 to July 24.
He warned that some voters live away from their native villages for education or employment.
Such voters could risk losing their names from the rolls if they remain unavailable during verification.
Accordingly, he urged party workers to help eligible voters complete the verification process.
He also asked them to safeguard every vote.
Ponguleti called on Congress cadres to support Rahul Gandhi.
He urged workers to take the party’s campaign against the SIR exercise to the public.
Several Congress leaders, local representatives and Booth Level Agents attended the programme.