Hyderabad, August 1, 2026 — Election authorities in Telangana have identified 48.3 lakh electors—about 14.2% of the state’s 3.38 crore electorate—for deletion from the voter rolls under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The number is likely to rise further, as nearly 29.5 lakh enumeration forms still await digitisation. The deadline for the exercise has been extended from August 3 to August 10.
Why so many names are flagged for deletion
All 48.3 lakh electors flagged for deletion are those whose enumeration forms could not be collected. When booth-level officers visited their registered addresses, officials found that:
- The voters had shifted to a new residence
- The voters were reported dead
- The voters could not be traced at the address
- The entries turned out to be duplicates on the rolls
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C. Sudharshan Reddy said all “uncollectable” cases would be removed from the rolls, as they fall under recognised deletion categories.
Old City and central Hyderabad: A mixed picture
The SIR data presents a relatively less alarming picture for the seven Old City and adjoining central Hyderabad constituencies, all represented by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Together, these seats have a significant share of the city’s electorate.
However, between one-fourth and one-third of the forms in every constituency are still awaiting digitisation. Pending digitisation remains widespread, with Malakpet and Karwan exceeding the state average. Nearly seven lakh forms have yet to enter the digital system across the seven seats.
Despite fears of mass deletions in the Old City, the data so far allays concerns of disproportionate cuts. Officials say the final draft rolls will reflect both collected forms and pending digitisation.
Legal and political backdrop
The Special Intensive Revision has already triggered legal challenges. The Telangana High Court recently heard a writ petition challenging the deletion of voters’ names without prior notice or a hearing. Petitioners argued that the law requires officials to issue a show-cause notice before deleting a person’s name from the electoral rolls.
The court pointed out that affected voters can:
- Submit enumeration forms during visits by booth-level officers to ensure their names appear in the draft rolls
- Apply for inclusion by filing Form 6 during the claims and objections period if their names are still missing
- Raise grievances before the District Election Officer and the Chief Electoral Officer
Political parties have also raised concerns. The opposition has questioned the pace and transparency of the SIR exercise, especially in urban areas with high mobility and rental populations.
What happens next
With the deadline extended to August 10, booth-level officers will continue house-to-house verification and form collection. After digitisation, the Election Commission will publish the draft electoral rolls. Citizens can then file claims and objections until August 30.
The final voter list will play a key role in upcoming local body and assembly elections, making the accuracy and inclusiveness of the rolls a critical issue for all stakeholders.
