Owaisi Urges Telangana Graduates to Register for MLC Polls Through Form 18

AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has urged eligible graduates in Telangana to register as voters ahead of the upcoming Legislative Council elections for graduate constituencies, stressing the need to complete the process through Form 18 to exercise their franchise. He called on eligible individuals to take an active part in the democratic process by ensuring their names are included in the electoral rolls before the deadline.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Owaisi said the Election Commission of India had initiated voter registration for two graduates’ MLC constituencies in Telangana. The constituencies are Hyderabad–Rangareddy–Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda–Khammam–Warangal, where elections to the Legislative Council are scheduled to take place. He urged eligible graduates living within these constituencies to complete the registration formalities well in advance rather than wait until the last moment.

Owaisi clarified that individuals who obtained their graduation degrees before November 1, 2023, are eligible to apply for inclusion in the graduates’ electoral rolls. He advised applicants to visit the official website of the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and submit Form 18 online. Graduates who face difficulties using the online facility can also submit physical applications through the designated official centres.

He emphasised that possessing a degree alone does not automatically guarantee the right to vote in the graduates’ constituency elections. Eligible graduates must ensure that their names are entered in the relevant electoral rolls to participate in the polling process. He appealed to all qualified individuals to verify the applicable requirements and complete their applications within the prescribed timeframe.

The voter registration drive is an important step in enabling eligible graduates to participate in choosing their representatives to the Telangana Legislative Council. Their participation can help ensure that the concerns and expectations of the educated electorate receive representation in the legislative process.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have called on election officials to take the necessary measures to ensure that the registration process runs smoothly and that eligible applicants can access the required facilities. Graduates in both constituencies have been urged to submit Form 18 within the stipulated deadline and avoid missing the opportunity to vote in the forthcoming MLC elections.