Party claims nearly 95% of applications are pending verification; demands simplified registration process and measures to protect eligible graduates’ voting rights
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has expressed concern over what it describes as the slow and disorganised pace of voter enrolment for the biennial elections to two Graduates’ Constituencies of the Telangana Legislative Council, scheduled for March 2027. The party has warned that administrative delays, difficulties in certificate attestation, technical hurdles and a limited registration window could prevent lakhs of eligible graduates from exercising their voting rights.
A delegation of senior BRS leaders met Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C. Sudarshan Reddy on Monday and submitted a detailed representation outlining the issues and seeking urgent intervention. The delegation included former minister and MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav, MLA Kaleru Venkatesh, MLC Dr Dasoju Sravan Kumar and MLC Surabhi Vani Devi, along with other party leaders and representatives.
The party raised particular concern over the Mahabubnagar–Rangareddy–Hyderabad and Warangal–Khammam–Nalgonda Graduates’ Constituencies, citing a substantial decline in applications compared with the previous election cycle.
Applications Fall to Nearly Half of 2021 Electorate
According to the BRS representation, a total of 10.36 lakh electors were registered across the two constituencies during the 2021 elections. However, only 5,23,758 applications had been received so far for the upcoming polls, equivalent to 50.56% of the previous electorate.
The party argued that the decline was particularly concerning because thousands of graduates have emerged over the past six years. It attributed the low registration figures to administrative shortcomings and difficulties faced by applicants.
At the prevailing rate of approximately 18,700 applications a day, the total number of applications could reach only around 7.7 lakh by November 6, the party estimated. This would amount to barely 74% of the electorate registered in 2021.
The BRS also highlighted a substantial backlog in the verification process. Of the 5,23,758 applications received, 4,96,112, or 94.72%, were reportedly awaiting completion of field verification.
The situation was described as particularly concerning in the Mahabubnagar–Rangareddy–Hyderabad constituency, where 2,25,133 of the 2,29,937 applications received—97.91%—were still pending.
Only 4.98% of Applications Approved So Far
The representation stated that only 26,085 applications, accounting for 4.98% of the total received, had been approved across the two constituencies. This represents just 2.52% of the electorate registered in 2021.
The party also pointed to what it described as inadequate outreach in Hyderabad. Although Hyderabad district accounts for 25.8% of the 656 polling stations in the Mahabubnagar–Rangareddy–Hyderabad constituency, it contributed only 17,165 applications, or 11.2% of the total received.
According to the BRS, insufficient awareness among IT professionals and urban employees has contributed to the low response. It urged the Election Commission’s field machinery to intensify public outreach and make the enrolment process more accessible.
BRS Warns of Possible Rejection of Applications
The party expressed concern that a significant number of applications could be rejected if the current trend continues. It said the rejection rate among applications decided so far stood at 5.71%. If the same rate were applied to the pending applications, more than 28,000 applications could face rejection, according to its estimate.
The BRS identified several difficulties allegedly affecting registration. It said that, in the absence of clear government instructions, some Gazetted Officers were refusing to authenticate educational certificates.
The party claimed that many graduates were becoming discouraged after making repeated visits to government offices. It also said applicants were often unaware that, after submitting applications online, they were required to submit physical copies authenticated by Gazetted Officers at Tahsildar or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) offices.
According to the representation, officials had not adequately communicated this requirement. The party further alleged that, unlike during general Assembly voter revisions, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) had not been assigned specific targets, door-to-door verification responsibilities or dedicated help desks for graduate voter enrolment.
Party Seeks Extension and Simplified Verification
The BRS has demanded that the November 6 enrolment deadline be extended by at least one month to give eligible graduates more time to register.
It has also called for extensive publicity clarifying that graduates can submit applications during the claims and objections period from November 25 to December 10, 2026, and through the continuous updation process.
The party urged the Chief Secretary to issue immediate instructions directing all Gazetted Officers to verify original certificates and attest photocopies free of cost, without refusing eligible applicants.
It also proposed setting up dedicated attestation desks, with public display boards explaining the procedure, at all Tahsildar, Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) circle offices, as well as government degree colleges.
The representation called for digitally signed certificates issued through DigiLocker or the National Academic Depository (NAD) to be accepted directly, without additional physical attestation. It also sought electronic verification facilities linked to state university databases to reduce paperwork and delays.
Another key demand was to exempt graduates already enrolled in the 2021 electoral rolls from resubmitting educational certificates. Since graduation is a permanent qualification, the party argued, such electors should only need to submit Form 18 and current proof of residence.
BRS Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Graduates’ Voting Rights
The BRS leaders emphasised that Graduates’ Constituencies are intended to provide educated citizens with a distinct voice in the Legislative Council and that eligible graduates should not be excluded because of procedural difficulties.
Former minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav urged the Chief Electoral Officer to take immediate decisions on the party’s requests and address the issues affecting voter registration.
He warned that the BRS would intensify its agitation on the ground if the authorities failed to act.
The party has called for urgent administrative measures, improved public awareness and a simplified verification process to ensure that eligible graduates have a fair opportunity to enrol before the 2027 Telangana Legislative Council elections. The concerns and figures cited in the representation reflect the BRS’s position and its assessment of the enrolment process.
