Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of political vendetta after his name was marked as “shifted” in the state’s draft voter list.
Chadha alleged that the classification was not a simple clerical error but an act of political retaliation. The Punjab government, however, said it has nothing to do with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which is conducted under the Election Commission of India and as per the law.
Raghav Chadha Questions ‘Shifted’ Status
In a post on X, Chadha said he is a sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and that his voter ID is registered in Mohali. He questioned why his name was marked as “shifted” in the draft electoral roll.
Chadha said the draft voter list is temporary and that the claims and objections process is still pending. He added that he would use the remedies available under the SIR guidelines to ensure that the alleged incorrect classification is corrected before the final voter list is published in October 2026.
According to Chadha, the process involves officials working at several levels, including Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and District Election Officers (DEOs). He alleged that these officials are part of the Punjab government’s administrative machinery.
Chadha Alleges Political Pressure on Officials
Chadha claimed that government officials involved in the electoral process know that their transfers, postings and careers can be influenced by the state government. He alleged that this creates pressure on officials and allows the government to use the administrative machinery for political purposes.
He also claimed that other MPs who left AAP and joined the BJP have faced similar targeting. Chadha alleged that since leaving AAP, the party’s leadership has used the Punjab Police and administrative machinery against those who refused to remain silent.
Chadha became a Rajya Sabha MP from AAP in 2022 and later joined the BJP.
Chadha Cites SIR Guidelines
Chadha also referred to Paragraph 4(d) of the Election Commission’s SIR guidelines, which he said provides special treatment for names of judges, elected representatives and certain prominent public figures.
He argued that the provision requires such names to be included in the draft electoral roll even if they have been flagged, allowing them to submit the necessary documents during the claims and objections period.
Chadha said that, as a sitting MP, his name should therefore have remained in the draft list. He alleged that the provision was deliberately violated in his case.
He concluded by saying that while AAP may run the Punjab government, “Punjab’s draft voter list is not its private property.”
