Raghav Chadha has accused the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab of political vendetta after his name was marked as “permanently shifted” in the state’s draft electoral roll. The BJP Rajya Sabha MP said his voter ID remains registered in Mohali and questioned why his name was classified as shifted. Chadha linked the development to his decision to leave AAP and join the BJP earlier this year. The Punjab government has rejected the allegation, saying the electoral roll revision is conducted by the Election Commission and that the state government has no role in deciding whose name is included or removed. The controversy comes as Punjab’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls remains underway.Why Was Chadha Marked Shifted?The dispute centres on Chadha’s entry in Punjab’s draft voter list. He said his name appeared in the ASDD list with “permanently shifted” recorded as the reason, despite his voter registration being in Mohali. Chadha alleged that the action was deliberate and described it as political revenge. However, the entry is currently part of a draft process, meaning it can still be challenged and corrected before the final electoral rolls are published.Chadha’s voter registration is in Mohali, Punjab.His name was classified as “permanently shifted” in the draft roll.He accused the AAP government of political vendetta.AAP said the Punjab government has no role in deciding electoral-roll entries.The final electoral rolls are scheduled for publication in October 2026.Political Row Over Voter ListChadha was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab as an AAP nominee in 2022. He later left AAP along with other Rajya Sabha MPs and joined the BJP earlier this year. Following the change in his political affiliation, Chadha has repeatedly criticised his former party and the Punjab government. He now says the classification of his voter entry is another example of what he calls political retaliation.The issue has gained attention because Chadha is a sitting Rajya Sabha MP representing Punjab. He also referred to provisions in the Election Commission’s SIR guidelines concerning public representatives. According to reports, Chadha cited Paragraph 4(d), which provides for certain public representatives and other listed personalities to be included in draft electoral rolls so that documents can be submitted during the claims and objections period.Also Read: Odisha Irrigation Expansion Adds 3.2 Lakh Hectares With ₹54,000 Crore ProjectsClaims Process Can Correct EntriesChadha himself acknowledged that the current electoral roll is only a draft. He said voters can use the ongoing claims and objections process to seek corrections, and that he is pursuing the remedies available under the SIR guidelines. The final electoral roll is expected to be released in October.AAP has denied involvement in the matter. The party and Punjab government have maintained that the Special Intensive Revision is an Election Commission exercise and that the state government does not decide which voters are included or excluded. A senior Punjab government official also rejected Chadha’s allegations as false, according to The Indian Express.Key HighlightsRaghav Chadha’s name was marked “permanently shifted” in Punjab’s draft roll.Chadha says his voter ID is registered in Mohali.He accused AAP of political vendetta after leaving the party.AAP denied having any role in the electoral-roll decision.Chadha is using the claims and objections process for correction.Punjab’s final electoral rolls are scheduled for October 2026.Final Roll Decision AwaitsThe Raghav Chadha voter-list controversy has added a political dimension to Punjab’s ongoing electoral-roll revision. While Chadha has alleged that his classification as shifted was politically motivated, the AAP government has denied responsibility for the decision. Since the current list is only a draft, the matter can still be addressed through the official claims and objections procedure. The final position will become clearer when Punjab publishes its final electoral rolls in October.Disclaimer: This article is provided for knowledge and news-information purposes only and is based on publicly available reports and statements. Allegations by political parties or leaders are presented as claims and should not be treated as independently established facts.
