TDP seeks reforms in electoral roll, transparency measures in letter to ECI
In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, TDP Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu highlighted Andhra Pradesh's exemplary voter turnout of 81.86% in the recent general elections — far exceeding the national average of 65.79%. He urged the Commission to ensure this democratic momentum continues through timely, inclusive, and tech-driven voter roll revisions.
Key suggestions include annual third-party audits under the CAG, AI-driven de-duplication, Aadhaar-based EPIC number verification, and enhanced public dashboards for voter grievance tracking. The TDP also called for stricter accountability of election officials, mandatory rotation of Block Level Officers (BLOs)/Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and special enrolment drives for marginalized and migrant populations.
Referring to the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the party emphasized the need for procedural clarity, safeguards against wrongful deletions, and respect for prior voter inclusion. Stressing that the exercise should not be conflated with citizenship verification, the party asked for early initiation of the SIR in Andhra Pradesh.
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The Hindu
43 minutes ago
- The Hindu
TDP seeks procedural clarity, safeguards against wrongful deletions in electoral roll management
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has submitted a detailed representation to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday, proposing a series of reforms aimed at strengthening electoral roll management and enhancing transparency in the democratic process. Making a significant reference to the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the party emphasised the need for procedural clarity, safeguards against wrongful deletions, and respect for prior voter inclusion. The TDP leaders also suggested that the SIR process should be conducted with sufficient lead time, ideally not within six months of any major election, to ensure confidence and administrative preparedness. Stressing that the exercise should not be conflated with citizenship verification, the party has sought early initiation of the SIR in Andhra Pradesh. In a meeting convened by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with all parties, TDP Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu highlighted Andhra Pradesh's exemplary voter turnout of 81.86% in the 2024 general elections, far exceeding the national average of 65.79%. He urged the ECI to ensure this democratic momentum continues through timely, inclusive, and tech-driven voter roll revisions. In the meeting, TDP leaders, including the party's Andhra Pradesh unit president Palla Srinivasa Rao and MPs participated. Key suggestions by TDP The TDP has suggested that the SIR should be conducted with sufficient lead time, ideally not within six months of any major election, to ensure administrative preparedness Annual third-party audits under the supervision of CAG to identify anomalies in electoral rolls Use AI-driven tools for de-duplication, migration and deceased entries real time A time-bound grievance redressal mechanism at BLOs or EROs Standardise door numbers nationwide to strengthen electoral roll verification The other key suggestions of the party include annual third-party audits under the supervision of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India to identify anomalies in electoral rolls, use Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven tools for de-duplication, migration and deceased entries in real time, ensure a time bound grievance redressal mechanism at the Block Level Officers (BLOs) or Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and standardise door numbers nationwide as a policy measure to strengthen electoral roll verification. The TDP also suggested that Aadhaar-based EPIC number verification would help in removing duplication and replace the ink-based verification process with a biometric verification process. Participation of Parties The TDP suggested that the ECI should mandatorily involve Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from all recognised parties throughout the revision process and make pre-publication sharing of draft rolls with BLAs compulsory to enable real-time verification. The district-wise data on voter additions and deletions should be published with explanations on the ECI portal and a real-time public dashboard for tracking voter grievances and their resolution should be set up, the TDP leaders said. Legal Reforms and Accountability The TDP has also called for stricter accountability of election officials. It suggested to enforce statutory timelines and penalties for inaction or misconduct by EROs or District Election Officers (DEOs), empower the State election watch committees to function with observer status during roll revision, mandatory rotation of Block Level Officers (BLOs)/Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to prevent local influence or partisan misuse and appoint a State-level Ombudsman under ECI to handle unresolved political grievances related to the electoral rolls. It has also suggested the ECI to conduct targeted re-enrollment campaigns for migrant workers, tribal groups, elderly people, and homeless citizens, and permit temporary address declarations with basic documentation to prevent disenfranchisement of mobile populations.
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Solan court allows woman's plea challenging closure report in gang rape case against Haryana BJP chief
On 1 April this year, judge Malhotra admitted the revision petition and sought case records from the Kasauli court. Sessions judge Arvind Malhotra directed the Kasauli court to record the woman's statement and objections by 30 July, and decide whether to uphold the police closure report or reopen the case. Gurugram: The Solan district and sessions court in Himachal Pradesh has allowed a revision petition of a Delhi-based woman seeking to reopen a gang rape case filed by her against Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli and Haryanvi singer Rocky Mittal, alias Jai Bhagwan. The judge heard arguments from both sides 5 July and announced its order in open court Tuesday, allowing the woman's plea and ruling the complainant must appear before the Kasauli court to record her statement and submit objections by 30 July. The Kasauli court will then decide whether to proceed with the case or uphold the closure report. The case has drawn significant attention due to Badoli's position as Haryana BJP president. He was appointed to the post in July 2024, ahead of the assembly elections, relieving Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini of the dual charge. Badoli is hopeful of getting a full term in the office. ThePrint tried to reach Badoli through texts and calls Tuesday, but his number was found switched-off. This report will be updated if and when a response is received. He had earlier dismissed the woman's allegations as 'baseless' and politically motivated. The BJP Tuesday shared his pictures with party leaders including state general secretary (organisation) Phanindranath Sharma and Haryana Minister Rajesh Nagar from the Amarnath cave. On Monday, the BJP shared a press note with his pictures with other BJP leaders aboard a flight to Srinagar. Mittal told ThePrint Tuesday that his lawyers have explained to him that the Solan court's order was between the police and the woman and that it does not affect him. Also Read: Solan court admits appeal against closure report in gang rape case against singer, Haryana BJP chief 'Gangraped while visiting as tourist' The case originates from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the woman 13 December last year at the Kasauli police station in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh under Sections 376D (gang rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The allegations, which became known to public 14 January, claim that the incident occurred 3 July 2023 at the Himachal Tourism Corporation's Ros Common Hotel in Kasauli. The complainant, a Delhi resident, alleged she was visiting Kasauli as a tourist with her friend and employer Amit Bindal when she met Badoli and Mittal. According to her complaint, the accused coerced her into consuming alcohol, gangraped her in the presence of her friend, and recorded compromising photos and videos. She further claimed the duo threatened to kill her if she reported the incident and later attempted to implicate her in a false case in Panchkula to silence her. The Kasauli police investigated the case for over two months but found no corroborating evidence. According to the Kasauli police, the complainant refused a medical examination and the 17-month delay in filing the FIR hindered the collection of critical evidence such as CCTV footage, alcohol glasses or bedsheets. Consequently, on 4 February this year, the police filed a closure report, which the Kasauli judicial magistrate's court accepted on 12 March after the complainant failed to appear despite summonses issued to two addresses. Complicating the matter, Rocky Mittal filed an extortion case against the woman 6 February 2025 at Panchkula's Sector 5 police station. The FIR, lodged under Sections 308(2) (extortion), 308(5) (extortion by fear of death or grievous hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), also named Amit Bindal, another woman, and an unidentified person. Mittal alleged the complainant demanded Rs 50 lakh and political favours to settle false the rape case. He cited WhatsApp calls 21 and 22 January this year, and earlier threats between 1 and 18 September 1 last year. He claimed the rape allegations were part of a 'honey-trap' plan using audio and visual evidence. He accused the complainant of using AI-generated videos to blackmail him and Badoli. The woman, who was granted anticipatory bail 12 March by a Panchkula court, alleged the extortion case was filed to pressure her into withdrawing the rape case. She claimed the fear of arrest prevented her from attending the Kasauli court hearings 6 and 12 March this year. The complainant, represented by her advocate Rajeev Negi, challenged the Kasauli court's order on the police closure report in the Solan sessions court by way of a revision petition. Her advocate argued the extortion case was a retaliatory move by the accused to discredit her. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Haryana BJP chief, singer Rocky Mittal booked in Kasauli for gang-rape, criminal intimidation
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Narasimha Rao reason why coalition govts perform better than majority govts, says Naidu
'India witnessed coalition governments from 1989 to 2014. Because of economic reforms, coalition governments were able to produce better results that governments with clear majority were not able to produce,' Naidu said. But the rise of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister marked a 'turning point,' restoring not just political stability, but also a 'renewed sense of national pride,' he added, delivering a lecture on the life and legacy of Rao at the Prime Minister's Museum and Library (PMML). New Delhi: Successive coalition governments in India, which lasted for over two decades until 2014, were able to produce 'better results' than the preceding majority governments, largely due to the economic reforms introduced by P.V. Narasimha Rao as Prime Minister, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said Tuesday. In his lecture, delivered as part of the Prime Ministers' Lecture Series organised by the PMML (formerly Nehru Memorial Museum and Library), Naidu invoked Rao's qualities as a polyglot to briefly wade into a political hot potato—the language row in Maharashtra. 'He (Rao) was a scholar fluent in 17 languages. Now we are talking why we should learn Hindi. He learnt 17 languages. That is how he became a great man,' Naidu said, describing Rao as the 'Deng Xiaoping of India' for his role in the 1991 economic liberalisation, which marked a shift from India's earlier socialist model. Former principal secretary to PM Modi Nripendra Misra also described Rao, who was awarded (posthumously) India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 2024, in similar terms in his introductory remarks at the event. 'He (Rao) was heading a minority government. To bring in bold reforms, political consensus is required. He managed to bring it due to his political acumen. To bring all in one platform was his greatest achievement,' Naidu said, drawing applause from a packed auditorium. The TDP supremo's remarks on Rao were largely confined to his role in unshackling the Indian economy, steering clear of any reference to the political circumstances, particularly his falling-out with Gandhi family, that led to him slipping into near-oblivion after his term as Prime Minister ended in 1996. A significant portion of Naidu's nearly 30-minute address focused on the achievements of Modi. The TDP is a key coalition partner in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, which fell short of securing a simple majority in the 2024 general election. Under Modi, India is taking strides on the world stage with 'confidence, clarity of purpose and bold decision making,' Naidu said. He also made it a point to recall Atal Bihari Vajpayee's role in transforming India's physical infrastructure and telecom sector. India, said Naidu, was primed to become an economic superpower, even surpassing the US and China, if it weds political stability with sound public policy. 'Hard work is no longer relevant, smart work is,' Naidu said, making a strong pitch for quantum computing. As CM, Naidu has taken up an ambitious project of developing a 'quantum city' in Amaravati. It is designed to include startups, MNCs, academia and research laboratories and will feature a building housing India's largest quantum computer, which, Naidu said, will arrive by 1 January, 2026. 'We are in inspiring times. The next 20 years are very crucial for India … With Modi at the helm of leadership, we will become the number one economy. It will happen through unity, hard work and a shared sense of purpose,' Naidu said. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: 'This secret will perish with me' — when Narasimha Rao was asked if India delayed nuclear test
