Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], October 12 : Strongly refuting claims surrounding the Ludhiana East constituency, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anandita Mitra on Monday asserted that reports alleging Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh's photograph was printed against an elector's entry in the final voter list are "completely incorrect," clarifying that an error from an earlier draft was already rectified during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Addressing ANI following the publication of the final electoral rolls for all 117 assembly constituencies, Mitra explained that the anomaly had occurred in an older roll and was formally identified and rectified during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 exercise.
This is completely incorrect news. Reports alleging that Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Ji's photograph is printed against an elector in the final voter list are entirely false. 
"This is completely incorrect news. Reports alleging that Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Ji's photograph is printed against an elector in the final voter list are false. I have shared the factual details along with photographs with the media. That was an error in an earlier draft roll, which was specifically identified and rectified during this SIR exercise. The very purpose of conducting the SIR was to correct errors in names, addresses, or photographs. It was rectified, and portraying it as being present in the final list is entirely untrue," the CEO clarified.
Highlighting the purpose of the revision drive, the Chief Electoral Officer emphasized that the entire objective of the intensive process was to clean up the roll and correct past clerical errors.
"The very objective of conducting the Special Intensive Revision was to identify and eliminate errors—be it in names, addresses, or photographs. That specific error was in an earlier roll, which we duly identified and corrected during the SIR. Portraying it as being present in the final published list is entirely false and misleading," she added.
The clarification comes alongside the publication of Punjab's final electoral roll, in which the total number of registered electors has reached 2.01 crore following the addition of nearly 7.97 lakh voters during the claims and objections phase.
Mitra further reiterated that the revision exercise was carried out with full transparency and that representatives of all recognized political parties have endorsed the updated rolls on record.
"The draft electoral roll in Punjab was published on August 13 with approximately 1.94 crore (1,93,94,000) registered voters. Following that, we invited claims and objections, urging citizens to submit Form 6 either online or through Booth Level Officers (BLOs). During this process, nearly 8 lakh additional electors—specifically 7,97,000—were enrolled. As of today, our final published electoral roll stands at 2.01 crore registered electors," Mitra said.
To ensure no eligible voter is left behind, the CEO announced that special camps will be organized across the state.
"Since this was a massive exercise, we will be organizing special camps for anyone who might have been left out. The schedule will be shared with political parties, administrative machinery, and the media. BLOs will help electors cross-check the electoral rolls on the spot, and anyone whose name is missing can immediately submit Form 6 with the BLO's assistance," she explained.
Mitra also briefed on an all-party meeting held earlier in the day with representatives of all recognized political parties, stating that they expressed complete satisfaction with the revision process.
"We held a meeting with all recognized political parties today, and they expressed complete satisfaction on record. They were engaged with us at every stage—from verifying unmapped electors and weekly lists of untraceable/absentee voters to cross-verifying deletions with their signatures," she noted.
Reaffirming the election machinery's preparedness for the upcoming assembly polls, Mitra asserted, "As and when the Election Commission of India announces the dates, we are fully committed to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections in Punjab."