Hyderabad’s political heat rose again on Saturday as Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar accused the Congress government and AIMIM of trying to target Hindu votes during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise in Telangana. His remarks have once again pushed identity politics to the centre of the state’s political debate.
Fresh row over SIR exercise
Bandi Sanjay alleged that the SIR process was being misused and that Hindu voters were being singled out in the name of electoral roll revision. He warned that people should stay alert and not allow any manipulation of the voter list.
The statement comes at a time when the revision exercise is already drawing attention from several political parties. While the government says the process aims to clean up voter rolls, the BJP has claimed that the move is being used for political gain.
Congress under fire
The BJP leader directly attacked the Congress government, accusing it of working against Hindu interests. He said the ruling party was acting in tandem with AIMIM and trying to build a vote bank by appeasing minorities.
According to him, the Congress has not only failed to protect Hindu interests but is also encouraging a political atmosphere that divides voters along religious lines. His comments are expected to trigger a sharp response from the ruling party.
AIMIM in the crosshairs
Sanjay also brought AIMIM into the argument, saying the party was influencing Telangana politics in a way that hurt Hindu voters. He claimed Congress and AIMIM together were trying to increase their support while weakening the Hindu vote base.
This line of attack fits a pattern that has marked several of Sanjay’s recent speeches. He has repeatedly used strong religious language to target the Congress and position the BJP as the only party standing with Hindu voters.
Political strategy or warning?
For the BJP, this issue is not just about voter rolls. It is also about mobilising Hindu voters ahead of future elections. Sanjay’s remarks appear aimed at turning a routine administrative exercise into a political flashpoint.
At the same time, the Congress is likely to see this as an attempt to polarise voters. The party may argue that the BJP is using communal rhetoric to distract from governance issues and development promises.
What comes next
The latest row is expected to deepen tensions between the BJP, Congress and AIMIM in Telangana. With the SIR exercise still underway, more such accusations are likely in the coming days.
For now, Sanjay has sent out a clear message: the BJP will continue to frame the issue as one of Hindu political consolidation. Whether voters respond to that pitch or reject it as polarisation will shape the next phase of Telangana politics.
