Even after the completion of elections, political parties in Telangana remain on edge as the state prepares for a Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls. The nationwide exercise has already been carried out in states such as Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where it triggered strong opposition from state governments. Chief Ministers and senior leaders led protests and rallies against the process, but the revision was completed amid heavy pressure on officials and strained Centre–state relations.
The Special Intensive Revision aims to remove duplicate entries and names of deceased voters from the rolls. In Telangana, the state government is reportedly considering the transfer of IPS officers in connection with the exercise. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the schedule for the third phase of the Special Intensive Revision in Telangana and several other states by the end of this month. Once notified, restrictions on transfers of officials associated with the process will come into force, prompting discussions in official circles about imminent transfers of district collectors, superintendents of police, and departmental secretaries before the restrictions apply.
As of September 2025, Telangana has approximately 3.35 crore voters, including 1.68 crore women, 1.66 crore men, and 2,829 third-gender voters. Preliminary assessments suggest that over 50 lakh names could be deleted from the voter list during the revision, a prospect that has heightened political anxiety in the state.
Experiences from other states underline the scale of the exercise. In Tamil Nadu, around 97.37 lakh voters, nearly 15.2 percent of the electorate, were removed, including deceased persons, those who had permanently relocated, and duplicate entries. In West Bengal, about 58.21 lakh voters, or 7.5 percent of the total, were deleted on similar grounds.
The issue has also taken on national political significance. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has alleged vote theft, claiming that the opposition’s defeat in the Bihar elections was due to the Special Intensive Revision process. In Bihar, around 68.5 lakh voters were removed, reducing the electorate from 7.89 crore in June 2024 to 7.42 crore in the final list of September 30, 2025, even as nearly 24 lakh new voters were added. The matter has since reached the Supreme Court.
Within Telangana, the Congress government, which recently completed two years in office, is said to have reviewed the performance of district collectors, SPs, and senior officials. With Chief Election Commissioner Gnanesh Kumar visiting Hyderabad to review preparedness and meet Booth Level Officers at Ravindra Bharati, speculation over administrative reshuffles has intensified. At the same time, the state is gearing up for Zilla Parishad elections following the conclusion of panchayat polls, limiting the window for transfers of officials on election duty.
Political observers note that Telangana could witness heightened resistance to the voter revision exercise, with both the ruling Congress and opposition BRS preparing to challenge the process. With government employees reportedly caught between directives from the Election Commission and the state administration, the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision in Telangana is expected to be closely watched in the coming weeks.