The Telangana Chief Electoral Officer ordered action after pre-printed voter deletion forms sparked a row in Hyderabad. Congress alleged these forms targeted Muslim voters in Goshamahal. Officials said the 15 applications were invalid as they lacked signatures. The CEO warned that false declarations in these forms will face strict enquiry.

The Telangana Chief Electoral Officer has ordered action against those who knowingly submit false declarations or statements in Form 7 applications seeking the deletion of voters' names. The move comes amid a controversy over pre-printed voter deletion forms in Hyderabad, with the Congress alleging that it was aimed at removing Muslim voters from the electoral rolls.

The CEO's directive comes days after 15 pre-printed Form 7 applications seeking the deletion of voters' names were reportedly brought before a Booth Level Officer in Hyderabad's Goshamahal constituency.

The forms allegedly carried details of voters, including their EPIC numbers, but were not properly filled out or signed by the applicants.

The Congress has alleged that the forms were brought by a BJP Booth Level Agent and claimed that they sought the deletion of the names of Muslim voters.

The BJP has rejected the allegation and denied any involvement by its BLAs in submitting bulk Form 7 applications.

Amid the controversy, the CEO issued a memorandum on Monday, specifically warning applicants against making false statements or declarations in Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8.

The CEO has directed Electoral Registration Officers to take action against such applicants after conducting an enquiry under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules.

The directive comes as Telangana carries out its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, during which voters and other stakeholders can submit applications and objections relating to electoral-roll entries.

The immediate trigger for the latest controversy was the submission of a batch of 15 Form 7 applications in Goshamahal. However, the BLO had reportedly refused to accept them, saying he had no instructions from senior officers to receive such applications in that manner.

Officials have subsequently clarified that the applications were not acted upon and did not lead to the deletion of any voter.

GHMC Commissioner and Hyderabad District Election Officer RV Karnan said the forms could not be treated as validly submitted as the applicants had not signed them.

Telangana CEO C Sudharshan Reddy has also maintained that an incomplete or improperly filled Form 7 does not automatically result in the deletion of a voter's name. Such applications have to undergo scrutiny and verification before a decision is taken.

CONGRESS ALLEGES TARGETING OF MUSLIM VOTERS

The Congress has alleged that the pre-printed applications were brought by a BJP Booth Level Agent and that the forms sought the deletion of the names of Muslim voters.

The party has demanded an enquiry into the source of the forms and questioned how voter details, including EPIC numbers, came to be included in applications that were allegedly not filled out and signed by the concerned voters.

The BJP has denied the allegations. BJP spokesperson NV Subash has rejected claims of an organised bulk deletion exercise involving the party's booth-level agents and accused the Congress of politicising the SIR process.

AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has also raised concerns over the alleged use of pre-filled Form 7 applications and accused BJP-linked individuals of attempting to delete voters' names. The allegations have not been established by election authorities and remain subject to verification.

The Telangana CEO had earlier said that around 29,000 Form 7 applications had been received across the state, including nearly 5,000 in Hyderabad.

Election officials have said that applications received in bulk, including those submitted through political parties or their agents, will be subjected to scrutiny and verification.

The CEO has maintained that properly filled applications citing valid grounds will be considered, while incomplete or unsupported applications will be rejected.

The Election Commission has repeatedly stressed that the submission of a Form 7 does not by itself result in the deletion of a voter's name. The application has to be examined and the prescribed verification process completed before an Electoral Registration Officer takes a final decision.