KBS SIDHU ASKS CEO PUNJAB TO FOLLOW DELHI’S LEAD: CAMPS AT EVERY POLLING STATION, FORM 6 FOR THE LEFT-OUT, AND TWO MORE WEEKS

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Punjab should hold special camps at every polling station for voters left out of the electoral roll, and the remaining stages of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the State should be extended by at least two weeks, KBS Sidhu, former Special Chief Secretary, Punjab, has urged in a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Ms Anindita Mitra. A copy has been endorsed to the Chief Election Commissioner of India.

KBS Sidhu pointed to the press note issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, on 7 October. It announced camps at all polling station locations on 9 and 11 October, house-to-house visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to help left-out electors file Form 6, and an assurance that every eligible elector who files Form 6 with the requisite documents will be included.

“Punjab’s statement of 1 October was a welcome start, with BLOs collecting documents at home and help desks in the districts. It did not, however, tell the voter whose name is missing what he may do now. Many believe, wrongly, that the door has shut,” KBS Sidhu said.

The letter asks the CEO to announce, in Punjabi, Hindi and English:

• that any eligible citizen not on the roll may file Form 6, online or on paper, now and after 12 October, until the last date for nominations;
• special camps at every polling station, on dates announced in advance;
• house-to-house visits by BLOs, with the lists shared with the parties’ Booth Level Agents;
• that the online Form 6 remains open to Punjab’s electors.

On the schedule, KBS Sidhu noted that the Vidhan Sabha election is due only by February 2027. “There is room to extend the disposal stage and the final publication, now fixed for 8 and 12 October, by at least two weeks without disturbing the election timetable. Delhi’s final roll is due only on 4 December,” he said. If 12 October is retained, he added, the special drive should run for at least two weeks after it.

    “What Delhi’s voter has been told in writing, Punjab’s voter is entitled to hear too,” KBS Sidhu said.