The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Punjab unit has raised concerns with the Election Commission of India regarding alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state. Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon highlighted that officials are collecting irrelevant information and unauthorized documents from voters, deviating from the SIR exercise’s purpose. Complaints have surfaced about Booth Level Officers (BLOs) collecting unnecessary documents, causing inconvenience to genuine electors.
The voter verification exercise in Punjab, aimed at mapping 2.14 crore voters, has faced controversy over demands for various documents, including rent deeds or affidavits, by BLOs. The BJP chief emphasized that this additional requirement is burdensome for electors, complicating and inconveniencing the process. The party has urged for an immediate inquiry into the unauthorized collection of documents and strict adherence to guidelines by poll officials.
The state BJP unit has called for the Election Commission to ensure a fair and transparent electoral roll revision process. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, involving 25,000 BLOs, began on June 25 in Punjab. This voter verification initiative gains significance as the state prepares for Assembly elections early next year.
