CHANDIGARH, May 18, 2026 – The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Punjab has drawn sharp criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party, with Sri Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang alleging that the process lacks transparency and disproportionately impacts the state’s significant overseas population.
In a comprehensive letter addressed to the Election Commission of India, the legislator argued that the procedural framework governing the current voter verification drive appears politically motivated. Kang noted that the state is facing a much stricter compliance schedule than other regions with comparable polling windows, which he characterized as highly suspicious.
“The manner in which the SIR exercise is being conducted raises grave questions about transparency and intent,” Kang asserted.
The lawmaker stated that the stringent physical verification procedures risk erasing genuine residents from the official voter ledgers, drawing parallels to previous voter roll updates in West Bengal and Bihar where large numbers of names were removed. He noted that the threat is particularly acute for Punjab’s extensive non-resident Indian community, whose members frequently travel abroad but retain their constitutional right to participate in domestic elections.
To resolve these logistical challenges, the member of parliament urged election authorities to modernize the verification system by integrating consular support and flexible administrative timelines. He suggested that Indian foreign missions should assist in verifying credentials, alongside the creation of online portals for document submission to prevent long-standing voters from being penalized for temporary relocation.
Kang maintained that any efforts to weaken the voting strength of the region would face sustained opposition from his party. He declared that safeguarding the integrity of the state’s democratic franchise requires immediate corrective action from the central election body.
The representative concluded by appealing to all local political stakeholders and citizens to actively monitor the local revision process, asserting that the public will not accept any reduction of their lawful democratic rights.
