Punjab CEO Anindita Mitra Wins Praise from Congress, BJP, AAP and SAD Over SIR

Punjab CEO Receives Appreciation from Four Political Parties

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anindita Mitra received appreciation from representatives of four major political parties — the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — following the publication of the final electoral rolls after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The development came amid protests in New Delhi over the revision of electoral rolls and criticism directed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Parties Appreciate Handling of Electoral-Roll Revision

According to a report by The Indian Express, representatives of all four parties said Mitra had listened to their concerns, responded to their questions and addressed issues raised during the revision process in Punjab.

The appreciation was notable because the parties hold different political positions and have been involved in wider debates surrounding the electoral-roll revision exercise.

Congress and AAP Clarify Their Position

Following their appreciation of the Punjab CEO's handling of the process, Congress and AAP leaders clarified that their remarks were specifically about the administration of the exercise in Punjab.

They stated that their appreciation should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the broader SIR exercise, which has prompted protests by opposition parties in Delhi and other places.

The clarification highlights the distinction between acknowledging the handling of a process at the state level and supporting the wider policy behind it.

SIR and Electoral Transparency

The Special Intensive Revision is an exercise related to the revision of electoral rolls. Electoral-roll accuracy and the handling of voter-related concerns remain important issues in discussions about election administration.

The response to Punjab CEO Anindita Mitra's handling of the exercise illustrates how communication between election officials and political parties can become an important part of the electoral process.

The wider debate over SIR, however, continues, with political parties maintaining differing positions on the exercise.

Source: The Indian Express, Express News Service, October 13, 2026.