Punjab's Special Intensive Revision: Political Parties Push for Transparency

In a crucial meeting on Friday, Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer, Anindita Mitra, engaged with representatives from registered and recognised political parties to ensure transparency in the forthcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The assembly polls are due early next year, heightening the significance of this democratic exercise.

Party representatives voiced concerns about potential large-scale alterations to the voter lists, drawing parallels to recent elections in West Bengal and Bihar. Mitra emphasized the pivotal role of booth-level agents (BLAs) in maintaining transparency and urged parties to expedite their appointments for enhanced coordination with booth level officers (BLOs).

The meeting also addressed issues such as duplicate voter registrations and the need for enumeration forms in Punjabi, to ensure clear voter comprehension. Mitra assured continuous coordination with political parties and detailed the logistical framework of the SIR, aiming for comprehensive voter inclusion while eliminating ineligible entries.

(With inputs from agencies.)