Randhawa Questions SIR Move Ahead of Punjab Polls, Calls It Threat to Democracy

Chandigarh, May 14, 2026: Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has raised serious concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign being initiated in Punjab just ahead of the Assembly elections. He said that with less than ten months left for the elections in the state, launching such a process raises doubts about the democratic system. He asked the Central Government to clarify why SIR is being conducted only in Punjab when elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are scheduled around the same time, and why Uttar Pradesh has been excluded.
Randhawa stated that if the Election Commission’s real objective is to make voter lists transparent and error-free, the process could just as well have been conducted after the elections. Implementing it immediately before elections naturally creates suspicion among people that there may be a political motive behind it.
He alleged that the BJP intends to use electoral processes in line with its political interests under the influence of the Central Government. He said that in a sensitive and politically aware state like Punjab, such steps have already created concern among the public.
Randhawa further said that serious questions had also been raised regarding voter lists in Bihar and West Bengal, where complaints emerged about a large number of people being deprived of their voting rights. He warned that any attempt in Punjab to remove genuine voters from the electoral rolls or stop them from voting would not be tolerated.
He questioned why this process, which has already been completed in states like Uttar Pradesh and Goa, is now being implemented in Punjab just before the elections. He said the Election Commission must provide a clear explanation on the matter.
Randhawa stated that through its workers and leaders, the Congress party will go village to village and city to city to ensure that no eligible voter is deprived of their democratic rights. He added that protecting democracy is a shared responsibility of all political parties and aware citizens.
He also appealed to all opposition parties in Punjab to rise above political differences and unite to protect the voting rights of the people of the state, so that any possibility of electoral malpractice in Punjab can be eliminated.