Raja Warring seeks Amit Shah’s intervention over first-time voters allegedly turned away during SIR
Writes to HM seeking clarity on citizenship documents and voter registration
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 29, 2026: Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Tuesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, raising the issue of first-time voters who were allegedly turned away while seeking enrolment during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Punjab.
Warring alleged that young men and women from various Assembly constituencies who had turned 18 and sought registration through Form 6 were being asked to establish the electoral-roll status of their parents or grandparents from the previous intensive revision conducted more than two decades ago.
In his letter, Warring urged Shah to intervene as Union Home Minister and sought a clear specification from the Ministry of Home Affairs on the documents that would be accepted as proof of Indian citizenship by all authorities, including the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Warring argued that Article 326 of the Constitution lays down citizenship, attainment of 18 years of age and ordinary residence as the relevant conditions for voter eligibility. The ECI’s own voter-registration guidance states that a general voter must be an Indian citizen, be at least 18 on a qualifying date and be ordinarily resident in the relevant constituency.
The Punjab Congress chief maintained that voter registration is a continuing process and referred to the provisions for continuous updation of electoral rolls. He argued that the ongoing SIR should not prevent eligible first-time voters from being enrolled.
The ECI had earlier clarified that Form 6 itself had not been changed, but that an additional declaration concerning linkage with parents or grandparents had been introduced alongside the form under the SIR process.
Warring said the Commission subsequently stated that the additional declaration would not be required after completion of the revision. He, however, contended that this did not resolve the position of applicants whose claims had allegedly been turned away before the September 12 deadline for claims and objections in Punjab.
“The young people turned away during it stand outside the roll to be finalised next month, and that roll is the one Punjab takes into 2027,” he said.
The Punjab CEO had set September 12 as the deadline for claims and objections concerning the draft electoral roll and specifically urged young people who had attained or would attain 18 years of age by October 1, 2026, to submit Form 6 for enrolment. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on October 12.
Warring further argued that the issue involved determination of citizenship, which he said falls within the domain of the Union Home Ministry. He referred to the Citizenship Act, 1955, and sought clarification on the documents that would establish citizenship.
He also referred to the Ministry of External Affairs’ position regarding passports and questioned what documentation would conclusively establish citizenship if an Indian passport alone did not serve that purpose.
Warring referred to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s previous service in the Union Home Ministry and said a clarification from the ministry on the legal requirements for establishing citizenship would carry weight.
The Punjab Congress president sought issuance of citizenship certificates to eligible applicants producing documents such as birth certificates or school records. Alternatively, he sought a notification specifying documents accepted as proof of citizenship by all authorities and urged that Form 6 applications be accepted through continuous updation without requiring the grandparent-related declaration.
The demand comes amid a wider political dispute over the SIR exercise in Punjab. Warring has previously sought suspension of the revision until the 2027 Assembly elections, alleging that its procedures could result in eligible voters being excluded.