India, April 19 -- With assembly elections early next year, all eyes in Punjab are on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. The SIR will roll out once the Election Commission (EC) announces the schedule for the third phase, covering 22 states and Union Territories. Several political parties view the exhaustive electoral roll clean-up with suspicion, leading to confusion and questions. In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Punjab's chief electoral officer Anindita Mitra explains the contours of the exercise. Edited excerpts:

What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

SIR is a comprehensive, door-to-door exercise carried out by the EC to update and 'purify' electoral rolls. At its core is the concept of a ...