Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) and a member of the Lok Sabha, cautioned that significant protests could erupt in Hyderabad if Form 7 is misused during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. He made these remarks at an Islamic gathering held at Milad Maidan on Saturday, October 3. Owaisi emphasised that the Election Commission should take necessary actions against individuals allegedly filing inaccurate Form 7 applications.

The parliamentarian specifically noted that if genuine Muslim voters are removed from the electoral rolls based solely on their religion, this could lead to demonstrations far larger than those seen earlier in Delhi. He stated, “If false Form 7 are being filed, we appeal to the Election Commission to take action against those responsible.”

Owaisi further asserted that should the situation continue without redress, protests reminiscent of those at Jantar Mantar in Delhi would unfold on the streets of Hyderabad, creating substantial disruption. He declared, “AIMIM will not remain silent,” indicating the organisation’s readiness to respond forcefully to perceived injustices.

Allegations of Manipulation by the BJP

During his address, Owaisi alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the broader Sangh Parivar were misusing Form 7 applications to systematically remove the names of Muslim voters. He described the practice as deeply concerning, noting that completed Form 7 applications were being submitted without proper identification of the individuals filing them. “If this is happening, it is completely wrong,” he stated, denouncing the alleged manipulation of the voter registration process.

He warned that if the Election Commission disregards these claims and allows the BJP to execute such removals unopposed, the AIMIM would actively intervene to safeguard the rights of Muslim voters. “If the Election Commission turns a blind eye and gives BJP people a free hand to remove the names of Muslims, we will not allow that to happen,” Owaisi affirmed.

These statements come amid an ongoing voter roll revision process, raising significant concerns about the integrity of electoral systems in the region. The potential consequences of these actions underscore the heightened sensitivities surrounding electoral representation in India.

Status of Voter Rolls in Telangana

As part of the electoral process in Telangana, Chief Electoral Officer C Sudharshan Reddy reported on Thursday, October 1, that out of approximately 92 lakh voters who received notices during the SIR phase, around 54 lakh have been successfully added to the electoral rolls. The SIR process is set to continue until November 5, with the aim of finalising the voter lists.

Reddy clarified that while nearly 54 lakh voters have been included in the main electoral roll, efforts to collect documents from the remaining approximately 40 lakh individuals are underway. This group includes individuals who are either deceased or have migrated, which means they will not be incorporated into the final electoral record.

In August, officials from the Election Commission had announced that notices were being issued to voters regarding discrepancies in their electoral records or failure to link their details to the 2002 rolls, a move that has stirred various responses among political stakeholders in the state.

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