Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday, 17 May 2025, declared that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would not permit the deletion of even a single legitimate vote under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, as concerns over manipulation of voter lists mounted across multiple states. Mann's warning came amid reports from other states of lakhs of genuine votes being struck off and irregularities in the verification process.

AAP's Ground-Level Watch Plan

Chief Minister Mann announced that AAP leaders and workers would be stationed alongside booth-level officers (BLOs) at every polling booth across Punjab throughout the SIR exercise. The move is aimed at monitoring the process in real time and preventing any tampering or irregularity. He added that representatives of all political parties would remain actively involved to ensure accountability at each step.

What Mann Said

'The Special Intensive Revision of voter lists must be conducted with complete transparency, honesty, fairness and accountability so that every genuine voter can exercise their democratic right without fear or obstruction,' Mann told reporters. He further stated, 'Democracy cannot survive if people begin to lose trust in the sanctity of electoral rolls and constitutional institutions responsible for conducting elections.'

Demands on the Election Commission

Mann urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to carry out the SIR exercise with complete honesty, transparency, and impartiality. He called on the Commission to ensure that public objections are resolved without delay and that every complaint raised by political parties is addressed honestly and transparently. The Chief Minister underscored that the ECI must act with 'utmost responsibility and neutrality' given the anxiety the deletions have created among citizens.

Wider Context: Complaints From Other States

The Punjab CM's statement comes against the backdrop of reported complaints from several states where the SIR process has allegedly led to the deletion of lakhs of genuine voter entries and the inclusion of fake ones. Critics argue that such irregularities, if left unchecked, could distort electoral outcomes and undermine democratic processes. This is not the first time the SIR exercise has drawn political scrutiny — concerns over electoral roll integrity have periodically surfaced ahead of state and national elections. Notably, the scale of reported deletions this cycle appears to have sharpened opposition vigilance across party lines.

What Happens Next

With AAP committing to booth-level monitoring across Punjab, the SIR process in the state is set to be closely watched by multiple political actors. The Election Commission of India is yet to formally respond to the specific concerns raised by Mann. How the Commission addresses the complaints lodged by parties in affected states will be a key indicator of how the exercise concludes across the country.