TDP MP calls Andhra SIR transparent, slams Congress for blaming it for poll losses
Telugu Desam Party MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu on Saturday defended the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Andhra Pradesh, calling the exercise transparent and accusing the Congress of blaming it for electoral defeats.
His remarks come amid a row over reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi repeatedly objected to decisions on voter-roll revision. The Congress has demanded answers from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for his resignation.advertisement❮❯ Read Full StoryTDP MP HAILS ANDHRA SIRDevarayalu, the TDP’s Lok Sabha floor leader, said his party had supported SIR from the outset as a way to update the rolls.
“We have experienced the SIR exercise firsthand in Andhra Pradesh, and it stands as a testament to transparency and fairness,” he said.
The 43-year-old MP said parties had time to raise concerns, eligible voters had opportunities to register, and booth-level officers checked past and present rolls across the state during the four-month exercise.
“The process was so meticulously and transparently conducted that even the opposition in Andhra Pradesh could not find a single flaw to object to,” he said.TDP QUESTIONS CONGRESS CRITICISM
The Narasaraopet MP accused the Congress of blaming SIR for its defeats while accepting the Election Commission’s decisions when it wins.
“If that were true, how do they explain their victories in other states?” he asked, citing the party’s win in Kerala.
Devarayalu said the Election Commission must answer the Opposition’s questions and expressed confidence that it would do so clearly.THE SIR ROW
The Indian Express reported that Sandhu and Joshi had raised objections to poll panel decisions at least 14 times over 10 months. Their reported concerns included new voter enrolment, deletion and restoration of names, appeals against voter-related orders, and control of electoral-roll data.
One dispute concerns Form 6, which new voters use to apply for enrolment. The commissioners reportedly objected to an SIR-related declaration in the online application process, arguing that the statutory form could not be changed without amending the rules.
The Election Commission says Form 6 remains unchanged and the declaration is a separate requirement under its SIR orders. Commission sources said all three members ultimately approved the orders unanimously, despite differences during the process.- Ends
Amit Bhardwaj is among the “politics-election buff” journalists redefining how news connects with a younger audience. Currently an Associate Editor at India Today, he has built a reputation for incisive on-ground reporting right from centre of politics - the Indian Parliament, to the machine of politics- high-stakes Indian elections and to civil aviation sector.
In the last eleven years, he has tracked India through a dozen state elections and consistently reported from the heart of India’s political churn, with a strong focus on the evolving dynamics of the opposition- INDIA bloc. He also tracks Aam Aadmi Party and Telugu Desam Party.
Known for blending easygoing storytelling with factual reportage, Amit Bhardwaj has delivered consistently from mines to skies. He has covered the rescue operations and rat miners in Joshimath. He extensively covered the tragic Air India 171 Ahmedabad crash in June 2025. His work on airline disruptions including the Indigo 2025 crisis, regulatory crackdowns, and aviation safety has added a distinct edge to his political reporting portfolio.
Amit was amongst few India journalists to witness Nepal's GenZ revolution firsthand as it was unfolding on the streets of Kathmandu. His documentary "Joshimath: A Cry For Help" was awarded ENBA Gold for Best In-depth Series.
Before joining India Today, he honed his craft at Newslaundry and Tehelka- in its prime, it was a thing- and has also contributed long-form pieces to The Caravan.
A distinct voice with a cheerfully incisive tone on the popular podcast Reporters Off Air, Bhardwaj brings insider perspectives and futuristic predictions .
Amit hails from Jharkhand, and often greets others with Jai Johar!
