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Visakhapatnam Collector directs officials to expedite SIR notice, hearing process
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District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore directed Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Additional EROs, and Assistant EROs to complete the issuance of notices to voters under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) within the stipulated deadline and prioritise hearings.He reviewed the SIR process with EROs, Additional EROs, Assistant EROs, and Election Cell officials via video conference on Tuesday (August 18, 2026). He reviewed constituency-wise details of notices issued since publication of the draft SIR, their delivery, hearings, and updating of records across the district.The Collector expressed dissatisfaction over the progress in Bhimili and directed officials to complete notice issuance within a day. He asked officials in the East constituency to speed up delivery and update details immediately after receiving notices from voters.In North, officials were asked to upload completed hearing details on the BLO app. He also directed officials in West and Gajuwaka to expedite pending work. Published - August 18, 2026 11:27 pm IST
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra speaks in a video she posted on X, saying that she has been asked by the Nadia district administration to vacate the circuit house, on April 14, 2026. | Ms. Moitra is a Lok Sabha MP from Krishnanagar in Nadia district.Huge crowd outside Krishnagar Circuit House shouting "Jai Shree Ram" while district administration calling/messaging me repeatedly to vacate room. Supreme Court asked me to face bullets so here I am … not backing down pic.twitter.com/1o0GmywXg8— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) August 14, 2026“I entered Circuit House at 18:30 hrs & given same room I always stay in. Dinner was served to me in room at 9:20 pm. I received call at 9:47 asking me to vacate. Now at 10:52 I receive this message with this ‘order’! Outside the gates are huge crowd shouting Jai Shree Ram!,” Ms. Moitra posted on social media.The MP also shared an order dated August 12 by the Deputy Collector of Nadia district stating that her reservation at the circuit house has been temporarily suspended for annual maintenance.In a video message, Ms. Moitra stated that as an MP of the district she was entitled to a stay at the circuit house and she was not vacating it as per district administration orders. In her messages, Ms. Moitra repeatedly claimed that a crowd had gathered outside the circuit house chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’.Leaders from different political parties in the Opposition raised the issue on social media and urged the administration to ensure her security. Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee raised concern that a woman MP was ordered out of the circuit house in the middle of the night.“And tomorrow, the BJP leaders will stand before the country and speak about women’s empowerment. You cannot celebrate Nari Shakti on a stage and use the power of the State to intimidate a woman who challenges you. That is not authority. That is insecurity @SuvenduWB,” Mr. Banerjee posted on social media, sharing the video message of her party MP.Congress leader Pawan Khera said a “sitting woman MP is being forced to vacate the circuit house in the middle of the night while there is a baying mob waiting for her outside”. He urged the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister “to ensure her security and well-being”.On July 1, Ms. Moitra had faced protests by a mob allegedly comprising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at a local party office in Nadia’s Krishnanagar. She claimed that the mob threw stones and eggs and she was injured in the attack. Trinamool Congress leaders have faced attacks, including eggs being thrown at them, after the BJP came to power in May 2026. Published - August 15, 2026 01:07 am IST
Their demands include the creation of a special block for pensioners at all government hospitals in the district. | According to a press release, R. Murugan, the president of the association, led the protest. Among the major demands, the association demanded that a special block be created to treat pensioners at all government hospitals in the district, a reduction of the premium for medical insurance for pensioners from ₹644 to ₹390, and the inclusion of pensioners as members in the District Grievances Cell chaired by the District Collector. Published - August 13, 2026 12:54 am IST
A Booth Level Officer (BLO) verifies voter details during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, in Vijayawada. File | District Collector Rajakumari Ganiya said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) began with 14,05,443 voters in the district, of whom 12,25,937, or 87.23%, were identified as genuine voters. The rest were placed in five categories: absent, permanently shifted, dead, duplicate entries, and those not interested in registration.As objections are likely on voters placed in these categories, the Collector asked officials to examine every objection, issue notices and hold an inquiry on receiving them. Officials were asked to receive Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8 as submitted, and scrutinise them as per the rules.Among the 12,25,937 genuine voters, 74,073 were found to have logical discrepancies in their data and another 6,067 had mapping pending. Notices should be issued to these 80,140 voters and inquiries held, the Collector said.Officials said 5,182 claims had been received for the Nandyal constituency, 3,051 for Banaganapalle and 3,105 for Dhone, and that the number of claims and objections was expected to rise.As the final electoral roll is to be published on October 3 under the SIR schedule, work on notices, claims, objections and discrepancies should be completed by September 10 rather than left until September 28, officials were told.Ms. Rajakumari Ganiya said the rules must be followed strictly in issuing notices to the 80,140 voters, and that each notice must specify the date and time for the voter to appear for the inquiry. The hearing date should be at least seven days after the notice is served. Published - August 11, 2026 05:27 pm IST
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