Chandigarh (Naval Kishore)— The District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh, Nishant Kumar Yadav, chaired a critical review meeting on Wednesday to accelerate preparations for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision of the Electoral Roll for the 01-Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency. In compliance with Election Commission of India directives, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized that the revision process, set to commence in April 2026, must result in a flawless electoral database. He expressed serious concern over current timelines, stating that a clean and authentic electoral roll is the foundation of free and fair elections and that any compromise on quality or accuracy would directly impact the integrity of the process.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner raised significant concerns regarding elector mapping, which was recorded at only 71% as of March 16. To address this, he issued an immediate directive to all Assistant Electoral Registration Officers to achieve 100% mapping without exception. Furthermore, a strict two-to-three-day deadline was set for the disposal of all pending forms and the submission of proposals for polling station rationalization to ensure better voter accessibility. A specialized data quality drive will also be launched to eliminate gibberish entries and non-standard photographs, while a comprehensive training program for various election officials and booth-level officers is scheduled to ensure uniform execution of these tasks.
To facilitate public participation, the administration is rolling out a robust outreach strategy involving digital tools such as the ECINET app, the 1950 Voter Helpline, and a “Book a Call with BLO” facility. The Deputy Commissioner directed that the State Contact Centre and BLO Help Desk must function 24/7 during the revision period to provide seamless assistance. Addressing the threat of misinformation, he ordered strict vigilance and prompt action against fake content, noting that the social media team will be strengthened to disseminate authentic information through advertisements, radio jingles, and SMS campaigns.
Concluding the session, the Deputy Commissioner made a strong appeal to the citizens of Chandigarh, noting that public participation is critical for the success of the intensive revision. Residents are urged to verify their voter details, ensure their photographs and addresses are correct, and report any duplicate or deceased entries using the available digital platforms. Stressing that the credibility of the electoral process depends on collective responsibility, Yadav called for full cooperation from political parties and the media to ensure the timely and error-free completion of the electoral roll update.
