Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of political vendetta. This allegation arose after his name was marked as “shifted” (moved to another location) in the state’s draft voter list. While Chadha accused AAP of removing his name, the state government stated it had no involvement in the SIR (Shifted, Absent, Dead) process, noting that the procedure falls under the Election Commission’s jurisdiction in accordance with the law.
Raghav Chadha became a Rajya Sabha MP representing the Aam Aadmi Party in 2022. On Thursday, the MP once again targeted AAP on the social media platform X regarding the “shifted” status of his name. In his post on X, Chadha stated that the AAP government in Punjab has now extended its politics of vendetta to the draft voter list. He remarked that, fortunately, this is only a draft list and not the final one; it is provisional, and the process for filing claims and objections remains. He added that he is utilizing the remedies available under SIR guidelines and will ensure this erroneous classification is rectified in the final voter list scheduled for publication in October 2026. Chadha pointed out that he is the incumbent Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and his voter ID is registered in Mohali, yet his name was marked as “shifted” in the draft list. He asserted that this does not appear to be a mere clerical error but a clear case of political vendetta. He questioned who marked him as “permanently shifted”—an official from the AAP government in Punjab. He further asked who verified this classification—again, an official from the AAP government in Punjab—and who processed it at a higher level—once more, an official from the same AAP government in Punjab. Raghav Chadha Explains the Entire Process
Raghav Chadha stated that every operational level of this entire process—from the ground-level BLO (Booth Level Officer) to the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab—is staffed by Punjab government officials. A BLO is typically a junior employee of the Punjab government. In the intermediate tiers, the AERO, ERO, and DEO are all Punjab government officials. At the apex is a Punjab-cadre IAS officer serving as the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab.
Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha remarked that these officials are aware that the AAP government controls their transfers, postings, and career trajectories once election duty concludes. They know who holds the power to transfer them or make their lives difficult. The AAP government exerts pressure on officials in this manner to exact political revenge. He added that the AAP leadership has been seething with anger ever since he left the “corrupt” party. They have unleashed the Punjab Police and the state’s administrative machinery against those who refused to remain silent. Other MPs who left AAP to join the BJP have also been targeted by the Punjab government. This erroneous classification is merely the latest instance of such political vendetta.
More importantly, Raghav pointed out that Paragraph 4(d) of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) detailed guidelines regarding SIR (Special Summary Revision) creates a ‘protected list’ for public representatives. This category includes judges, MPs, and MLAs. The guideline states: “All names of members of the judiciary, public representatives, holders of declared offices, and eminent personalities from fields such as art, culture, journalism, sports, and public service—which were previously flagged in the electoral database—must be included in the draft voter list so that necessary documents can be collected during the claims and objections period.”
Raghav Chadha stated, “I am a sitting MP from Punjab. Even if my name had been flagged, it should have been included in the draft voter list in accordance with Paragraph 4(d). This directive was not merely overlooked; in my case, it was deliberately violated.” Even though the AAP runs the Punjab government, the state’s draft voter list is not its private property. **Name shifted from Delhi to Punjab**
It is worth noting that Raghav Chadha’s vote was previously registered in the Rajinder Nagar area of Delhi (Serial No. 313, Part No. 52). After the Aam Aadmi Party formed the government in Punjab, he had his registration shifted to Mohali, Punjab, prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He even cast his vote in Mohali during the 2024 elections.
Significantly, rules dictate that to become a Rajya Sabha MP, one must be a registered voter in the state from which one is elected. If Raghav Chadha’s vote is deleted from the Punjab electoral roll, questions regarding his membership are bound to arise.
**’Raghav Chadha does not live in Punjab’**
Meanwhile, an AAP spokesperson stated that it is a matter of public record that Raghav Chadha resides in Delhi, not Punjab. If he no longer lives in Punjab, it was his own responsibility to maintain his voter registration or transfer it elsewhere. He cannot now blame the AAP or the Punjab government for the removal of a voter entry.
The spokesperson leveled another sensational allegation, stating that the AAP had received information from Election Commission sources indicating that Raghav Chadha is attempting to get his voter registration done in Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar with a backdated entry. He said, “If this is true and any such backdated entry or illegal action has been taken, it must be investigated, and the full truth revealed to the public.”
