Telangana set to lead electoral roll purification, CEC Gyanesh Kumar says

Telangana will soon set a national benchmark in electoral roll purification. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar made this assertion on Sunday. He spoke during an interaction with Booth Level Officers. He cited Bihar’s recent Special Intensive Revision as the model to follow. The Chief Electoral Office shared details of his remarks.

To begin with, Kumar underlined the role of Booth Level Officers. He called them the backbone of India’s electoral system. He said their diligence ensures clean and accurate voter lists. He added that integrity at the booth level protects democracy. Therefore, the success of electoral roll purification rests on their daily work.

Next, Kumar placed India’s elections in a global context. He said the world watches Indian polls closely. Many countries study how the largest democracy conducts elections at scale. He stressed that credible voter rolls strengthen public trust. As a result, each revision exercise carries national and international importance.

Then, Kumar referred to Bihar’s experience. He said the state completed a massive Special Intensive Revision with precision. The exercise enabled nearly 75 million voters to participate in the recent Assembly elections. He highlighted key outcomes. The process recorded zero complaints. It also saw zero re-polling and zero recounting. He congratulated Bihar’s Booth Level Officers for achieving this standard. He urged Telangana officials to replicate and improve upon it.

After that, Kumar spoke directly about Telangana. He described the state as geographically vast. He said Telangana is larger than Canada in area. He added that the state will enter a new era of electoral administration after completing roll purification. According to him, accurate rolls will improve voter confidence and participation.

Meanwhile, Kumar addressed the issue of voter turnout. He pointed to urban voter apathy as a major concern. He said cities often report lower participation. In contrast, rural voters continue to lead by example. They turn up in large numbers. They also stand patiently in long queues. Therefore, he urged officials to focus on urban outreach.

At the same time, Kumar reaffirmed the legal framework of elections. He said India conducts elections strictly under the law of the land. He added that all stakeholders must follow election rules. He stressed that adherence to law ensures fairness and transparency.

In addition, Kumar spoke about India’s growing global role. He said India recently assumed the chairship of International IDEA. The country joined the organization in 1995. Nearly three decades later, it now leads it. He said this development reflects global recognition. According to him, the Election Commission of India ranks among the world’s most credible and innovative election bodies.

Further, Kumar highlighted the scale of Indian democracy. He said India has more than 900 million electors. These voters live across 28 states and eight Union Territories. He said managing elections at this scale requires discipline and coordination. Therefore, accurate electoral rolls become even more critical.

Earlier, Chief Electoral Officer C Sudarshan Reddy set the context. He shared key statistics about Telangana. He spoke about the total number of voters. He also outlined the number of districts and Assembly constituencies. His presentation offered a snapshot of the state’s electoral map.

The meeting drew senior officials. Additional CEO Vasam Venkateshwara Reddy attended. GHMC Commissioner RV Karnana also joined. Senior Deputy CEC Pawan Kumar Sharma was present. Rangareddy district Collector Narayana Reddy attended as well. Together, they discussed the roadmap for a clean and credible voter roll exercise.