Telangana Records 21.7% Electoral Roll Deletions in Draft SIR Driven by Hyderabad Belt

At the conclusion of the enumeration phase for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, Telangana recorded a 21.7% deletion of names from its pre-SIR electoral rolls. This represents the highest draft-stage deletion rate among major states across the country, led overwhelmingly by urban and peri-urban constituencies in and surrounding Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

What Happened

Telangana underwent the enumeration phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process to update its electoral registers. Following this enumeration, the state registered a 21.7% deletion rate from its pre-SIR rolls. This figure exceeds the draft-stage deletion percentages recorded in other major states where the revision was carried out, including Uttar Pradesh at 18.7%, Tamil Nadu at 15.2%, and Gujarat at 14.5%.

The data reveals a stark division between urban and rural assembly constituencies. Across 21 constituencies categorized as “Highly Urban,” the deletion rate reached 40.4%, with nearly 70% of removals attributed to electors having “shifted.” In contrast, deletion rates in “Moderately Rural” and “Highly Rural” seats stood at 12.37% and 11.92% respectively.

Key Highlights

• Highest Draft Deletion in the Country: Telangana’s 21.7% deletion rate at the draft stage leads all major states where SIR has taken place.
• Urban Concentration: Out of 21 Assembly Constituencies with deletion rates of 35% or more, 19 fall into the “Highly Urban” classification, primarily located in and around Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
• Top Constituency Deletion Rates: Musheerabad registered the highest deletion rate at 45.2%, followed by Sanathnagar (44.9%), Malakpet (44.8%), Lal Bahadur Nagar (44.4%), Jubilee Hills (44.1%), Secunderabad Cantonment (42.8%), and Serilingampally (42.7%).
• Peri-Urban Impact: In “Moderately Urban” seats (which averaged 29.8%), high numbers were driven by peri-urban areas adjoining Hyderabad, including Maheswaram (41%), Rajendranagar (38.9%), Patancheru (31.9%), and Medchal (31.5%). District towns like Warangal West (28.9%), Nizamabad Urban (27%), Khammam (24.6%), and Warangal East (19.5%) posted lower percentages.
• Shifted Voters: In the 21 “Highly Urban” constituencies, roughly 70% of removed names were taken off the lists because the electors had shifted.
• Gender Ratio Increase: Unlike states such as Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Keralam—which recorded drops in gender ratio between their 2024 Lok Sabha rolls and final SIR rolls—Telangana’s draft rolls saw an increase from 1,018 to 1,028.

Why This Matters

The draft figures highlight significant demographic and residential shifts in major metropolitan centers. Electoral roll deletions are particularly concentrated in urban and peri-urban belts, where high mobility and shifting residences directly influence draft voter counts. Additionally, the upward movement in the state’s gender ratio contrasts with the downward trend observed across several other states between the 2024 Lok Sabha rolls and their final SIR rolls.

What to Watch Next

Telangana’s draft electoral rolls will proceed into a corrections period, during which electors can be added or re-entered before the rolls are finalized. As the figures currently represent the draft stage, final deletion rates and the state’s electoral gender ratio remain subject to revision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were so many electors deleted in urban constituencies?

In the 21 constituencies classified as “Highly Urban,” approximately 70% of all deletions occurred because electors were recorded as having “shifted.”

Which constituency saw the highest percentage of deletions?

Musheerabad recorded the highest draft deletion rate in Telangana at 45.2%, closely followed by Sanathnagar at 44.9%.

How did the rural constituencies compare?

Constituencies categorized as “Moderately Rural” and “Highly Rural” saw much lower deletion rates, averaging 12.37% and 11.92% respectively. Among highly rural seats, Achampet had the highest rate at 16%.

Source: Based on reporting and electoral data analysis published by The Hindu.