CM Revanth Warns of BJP-BRS Plot To Delete Congress Votes

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday alleged that the BJP and the BRS had colluded to delete the names of Congress sympathisers — particularly voters from SC, ST and Minority communities — from the electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. He claimed the two opposition parties were conspiring to launch a “backstab attack” on him by targeting Congress-supporting voters in his home constituency of Kodangal.

Speaking at a meeting of Congress Booth Level Agents (BLAs) in Kodangal after participating in the SIR process, Revanth Reddy said the BJP and BRS might have different names but were “two sides of the same coin.” He alleged they were working together to weaken his political base in Kodangal as part of a larger attempt to undermine his position at the state level. Unable to defeat him directly, he said, they were plotting to remove the votes of his supporters.

The Chief Minister expressed concern over the pace of voter enrolment in the constituency and directed Congress BLAs to ensure 100 per cent completion by July 30, ahead of the official deadline of August 3. He noted that 1,96,620 voters — around 78 per cent of the electorate — had completed the process, while 54,635 voters, or nearly 22 per cent, were yet to do so. He cautioned that the pending enrollment could have serious electoral consequences for the Congress.

Recalling his 2023 Assembly victory from Kodangal with a majority of about 35,000 votes, Revanth Reddy pointed out that nearly 55,000 voters were still to complete the SIR process. “After deducting my majority, I am in a deficit of nearly 20,000 votes,” he said, urging party workers to treat the issue with utmost seriousness.

He warned that losing one’s vote meant losing one’s identity, adding that people without voter cards risked being ignored by political parties and excluded from welfare schemes. “A person without a voter card is equal to a dead person,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister asked BLAs to undertake door-to-door visits, assist eligible voters with verification forms, and provide details to election officials. He said it was the responsibility of every Congress BLA to ensure no eligible voter was left out, and called upon party workers to make Kodangal a model for the entire state.

Revanth Reddy also criticised Booth Level Officers (BLOs), saying they were government employees who received salaries regardless of enrolment progress. “BLOs have nothing to lose. They get their salaries every month in their bank accounts and do not even have to walk to receive them,” he said. In contrast, he argued, Congress would face the political consequences if eligible voters were excluded.

He added that as Chief Minister and Congress leader, he had a responsibility beyond Kodangal and was concerned about voter enrolment across all constituencies. However, he said, if he questioned poor progress elsewhere, party leaders would point to the situation in his own constituency. He therefore appealed to Congress leaders and workers in Kodangal to complete 100 per cent enrolment by July 30.