Telugu-only voter forms spark confusion in Suleman Nagar and Jalpalli

On June 28, electors in Suleman Nagar ward within the Rajendra Nagar Assembly constituency and the neighbouring Jalpalli area under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits faced widespread confusion after receiving Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter enumeration forms printed exclusively in Telugu. Local residents who are unable to read or write the language have raised concerns over the lack of English-language alternatives.

According to local electors, the distribution of the Telugu-only forms has caused significant apprehension, particularly because Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have reportedly refused to provide alternative forms in English.

Mohammed Zafar, a resident of Suleman Nagar ward, stated that all electors at booth number 293 in the Rajendra Nagar constituency received the Telugu forms. Zafar, who has eight voters in his household, explained that while some residents can speak Telugu, reading and writing the language is highly challenging for many. He noted that electors are currently relying on local leaders for assistance to fill out the documents.

A similar situation occurred in Jalpalli, a neighbourhood near Barkas that was recently merged into the GHMC. M.A. Kareem, a resident of Jalpalli, received his Telugu enumeration form on June 28. Kareem expressed that receiving forms in English would have made the process much easier across GHMC limits, as many city residents cannot read Telugu.

Kareem also highlighted that the refusal of BLOs to supply alternative forms forced some residents to use translation mobile applications to understand the text, though he questioned the accuracy of such digital translations. He added that even some individuals whose mother tongue is Telugu struggled to read or write the formal text on the forms.

Another Jalpalli resident, Mohammed Ahmed Vindhani, confirmed that his immediate and extended family members all received the Telugu forms. He observed that some residents who do not speak Telugu had to watch YouTube explainer videos to complete the registration process. Vindhani noted that many local residents do not have high educational qualifications and criticized the BLOs for not providing adequate help or understanding the process well enough to assist.