A resolution against electoral irregularities was passed unanimously by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday, October 23, calling for an independent inquiry into alleged lapses in the electoral process and in the preparation of voter lists. The official resolution was taken up on the second day of the Assembly session in Chandigarh, months before the state is due to go to the polls.
What the Resolution Says
Moved by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, the resolution expresses grave concern over allegations of large-scale deletion of voters’ names from electoral rolls. It asks for an independent, impartial and credible investigative mechanism to examine alleged irregularities concerning the electoral process and voter lists under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, so that the facts emerge and accountability is fixed.
The text further states that if concrete evidence of criminal violations against any person emerges during such an investigation, criminal proceedings should follow in accordance with the law. It also refers to Articles 324, 325 and 326 of the Constitution, which deal with the supervision of elections, protection against discrimination in electoral rolls and the principle of adult suffrage. The resolution urges the Union government and the relevant constitutional authorities to guarantee transparency, impartial scrutiny of discrepancies in the rolls and protection of the voting rights of eligible citizens.
Debate in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha
Taking part in the discussion, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of vote “loot,” describing the alleged practice as dangerous for democracy, and demanded that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls be scrapped. Mr. Cheema, referring to earlier controversies over electoral rolls in Delhi and other states, said there had been complaints that supporters of Opposition parties and marginalised communities were being selectively targeted.
Support also came from outside the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. Manpreet Singh Ayali of the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De backed the measure and said the SIR exercise was mired in controversy. The Congress, meanwhile, said its own resolution had not been taken up, with party leader Bajwa stating that the AAP government later chose to bring its official resolution instead.
Why a Resolution Against Electoral Irregularities Matters Now
The Special Intensive Revision has become a contested issue in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly election. The Election Commission announced the exercise for the state with a start date of June 15, and Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring questioned its timing, noting that the elections were less than ten months away. Other Congress leaders asked why Punjab was being covered while states such as Uttar Pradesh and Goa, which also face polls around the same time, had seen the revision earlier.
Opposition parties nationally have also demanded accountability from the Election Commission. The Commission has maintained that all final decisions on the SIR, including orders issued since June 24, 2025, were taken unanimously with the approval of all three election commissioners. It has described internal technical notes and written queries as standard procedure in a multi-member body.
The Other Side of the Argument
The BJP has rejected the allegations. Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon has argued that the SIR process in the state is being conducted by the state government and that the Centre has no role in it. He has questioned why the Punjab government would carry out the exercise and also protest against it. The BJP has also accused the Congress of creating a manufactured controversy around the Election Commission.
What Happens Next
A resolution passed by a state Assembly carries political and moral weight but does not bind the Election Commission or the Union government. Whether it leads to any formal review will depend on the response of the Centre and the constitutional authorities to which it is addressed. For now, the unanimous vote signals that the question of voter list integrity will remain central to Punjab’s political debate as the state approaches its next Assembly election.
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