Bhagat Singh's Photo in Ludhiana East Voter Roll Sparks Row; Officials Say Fixedਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਪੂਰਬੀ ਵੋਟਰ ਸੂਚੀ 'ਚ ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਫੋਟੋ ਦਾ ਵਿਵਾਦ; ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਬੋਲੇ, ਗਲਤੀ ਠੀਕ

A photograph of freedom fighter Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh has appeared against a voter's entry in the electoral roll of the Ludhiana East Assembly constituency, Congress leaders alleged on October 10-11, 2026. Ludhiana's district election office called the claim misleading and said the wrong photo was spotted and corrected during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

What did Congress allege?

Former MLA and Ludhiana Urban Congress president Sanjay Talwar said that at serial number 422 in Part 38 (booth 38) of the Ludhiana East (constituency 60) roll, Bhagat Singh's picture was used instead of the voter's own. He also alleged wrong photographs at eight other serial numbers in the same booth: 5, 69, 397, 410, 747, 750, 983 and 990.

Talwar said that if so many errors could be found in one booth, rolls for all 235 booths in the constituency should be scrutinised. Former Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring raised it on X, asking the Election Commission who would investigate and whose accountability would be fixed.

What does the administration say?

In an official clarification issued on Sunday, the Ludhiana district election office said the incorrect photograph was in an older roll and was carried into the draft roll published on August 13, 2026. It said the error surfaced during SIR verification and has already been corrected. The final roll with the correct photograph has been prepared and will be published on October 12.

Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain told the Tribune the error was carried forward from the earlier roll, and ETV Bharat quoted him saying it could be a technical error and that action would follow against whoever is at fault after a full inquiry.

How has AAP reacted?

Ludhiana AAP district president Jatinder Khangura said election officials had "not spared even Shaheed Bhagat Singh" and called it a scam that needs investigation. He tied it to AAP's ongoing street protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise.

Why does this matter in Punjab?

The row lands while protests over the SIR and voter deletions are running in Delhi and other cities, and with Punjab heading for Assembly elections in 2027. Bhagat Singh, whose ancestral village Khatkar Kalan is in Punjab's Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, is among the state's most revered figures, which is why even a clerical photo error has drawn instant political reaction.

Which voter's entry was affected?

The Congress complaint points to serial number 422 in Part 38 of the Ludhiana East roll. The voter's name is not needed to understand the issue, and the district office says the entry has been corrected.

When will the final Ludhiana East roll be published?

The district election office says the final electoral roll with the correct photograph will be published on October 12, 2026.

Is the claim that Bhagat Singh's photo is in the roll true?

Officials do not deny a wrong photo existed. They say it was in the old and draft rolls, was caught during SIR verification and has been corrected; they call the claim "misleading" because it has already been fixed.