2 hrs ago
Hyderabad BLO Rejects Bulk Pre-Printed Voter Deletion Forms
A Form 7 is used to ask for a voter’s name to be removed from an electoral list.
In Hyderabad, a booth-level officer refused a batch of forms because they had printed voter numbers but no names.
He said he was simply doing his job.
Congress shared a video of the refusal and said it feared people might be wrongly removed from voter lists.
The BJP denied submitting bulk forms and said some applications concerned people it said were not citizens.
Other similar forms had also been reported in Hyderabad.
The election office said it was investigating.
The dispute comes as the deadline for claims and objections approaches.
A booth-level officer in Goshamahal refused to accept a batch of pre-printed Form 7 applications in September-end.
The officer said the forms contained EPIC numbers but no names, and that he had no instruction to accept them.
The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee shared a video of the incident and alleged bulk applications raised concerns about voter deletions.
The BJP denied submitting bulk Form 7s and accused Congress of spreading malicious propaganda; its spokesperson said the forms targeted non-citizens.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s office said an inquiry was underway and warned that strict action would follow if people were targeted.
- Who
- A booth-level officer in Goshamahal, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, the BJP, and the Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
- What
- The officer refused to accept a batch of pre-printed Form 7 applications seeking voter-list deletions.
- Where
- Booth 173 in the Goshamahal constituency, Hyderabad, Telangana.
- When
- The forms were presented in September-end; the video was released on Saturday, and the claims-and-objections period was due to end October 7. The article refers to the 2026 electoral-roll revision.
- Why
- The officer said the forms had printed EPIC numbers but no names, and he had no instruction from his superiors to receive them.
Congress and election-integrity concerns
BJP’s denial and stated rationale
Whether bulk applications were improperly filed
Congress and election-integrity concerns
Congress said the pre-printed forms raised concerns about a larger effort to delete voters in bulk and called for action to protect voting rights.
BJP’s denial and stated rationale
BJP state president N Ramchander Rao said BJP booth-level agents had not submitted bulk Form 7s and accused Congress of malicious propaganda against constitutional institutions.
Who the applications concerned
Congress and election-integrity concerns
Congress alleged that pre-printed forms were being prepared to seek voter deletions, including applications reported in Musheerabad against 31 electors.
BJP’s denial and stated rationale
BJP spokesperson NV Subhash said bulk forms were being submitted against Rohingyas who were not citizens and argued there was nothing wrong with seeking to deny them voting rights.
Response to alleged false applications
Congress and election-integrity concerns
Asaduddin Owaisi urged the Election Commission to act if false Form 7s were being filed and warned of protests if the issue continued.
BJP’s denial and stated rationale
The CEO’s office said it was investigating and would take strict action if people were being targeted through bulk filings.
Key facts
- Form 7 purpose
- Used by electors to seek deletion of their own name or object to another elector in their constituency.
- Officer’s explanation
- He said the forms had printed EPIC numbers but no names and that he had no instruction to accept them.
- Booth and constituency
- Booth 173, Goshamahal constituency, Hyderabad.
- Other reported cases
- The article describes pre-printed Form 7s in Musheerabad and Bahadurpura; the Musheerabad applications reportedly sought deletion of 31 electors.
- Election office response
- The Chief Electoral Officer’s office said an inquiry was underway and that strict action would be taken if people were targeted.
- Claims and objections deadline
- October 7, according to the article.
Quotes
Office of Chief Electoral Officer Sudarshan Reddy
The Telangana Chief Electoral Officer’s office, which said an inquiry was underway.
“If some are targeting people by filing bulk Form 7s, we will take strict action.”
indianexpress.com
“I was just doing my duty.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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