In a major political stir, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has found his name missing from the Punjab draft electoral roll. While Chadha alleges a targeted political vendetta by the AAP government, officials maintain that the Election Commission is solely responsible for the revision.

  • Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha's name was removed from the Punjab draft electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
  • Chadha has termed the move as 'political vendetta' by the AAP-led Punjab government.
  • The AAP and state officials clarified that the Election Commission, not the state government, conducts the SIR.
  • Chadha was categorized under the 'permanently shifted' (ASD) list.

A significant political confrontation has erupted following the publication of the Punjab draft electoral roll. Raghav Chadha, the youngest Rajya Sabha MP and a prominent leader who recently transitioned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in April 2026, has had his name deleted from the list. The deletion occurred during the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

According to Election Commission records, Chadha's name appears in the ASD (Absent, Shifted, Deceased, and Duplicate) list, with the specific notation stating he has "permanently shifted." This move has prompted a fierce rebuttal from Chadha, who claims the action is a deliberate attempt at political retribution by the AAP government in Punjab.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the integrity of electoral rolls is the bedrock of democratic legitimacy. When high-profile public representatives are flagged as 'shifted' or 'absent,' it raises critical questions about the accuracy of the revision process and the potential for administrative bias in sensitive electoral zones.

"The exclusion of a sitting Member of Parliament from the draft rolls suggests either a massive systemic failure or a targeted administrative maneuver."

Chadha argued that the Election Commission's own guidelines, issued in June 2025, explicitly state that public representatives should be included in the draft rolls to facilitate the collection of necessary documents. He asserted, "I am a sitting Member of Parliament from Punjab... This does not seem like a mere clerical mistake. This is a clear case of political vendetta."

Countering these allegations, a senior Punjab government official stated that the state government has zero involvement in the SIR process, which is managed exclusively by the Election Commission of India (ECI). An AAP spokesperson added that since Chadha resides in Delhi, maintaining his voter registration in Punjab was his personal responsibility, dismissing his claims as baseless.

Historically, the Representation of the People Act, 1951, mandates that a candidate must be a registered elector to serve in the Rajya Sabha. While Chadha was previously registered in Delhi, he had successfully transitioned his registration to Punjab, as evidenced by his participation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in SAS Nagar (Mohali).

Did You Know?: Across India, an estimated 13.37 crore names have been removed from draft electoral rolls during the recent Special Intensive Revision process.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Raghav Chadha restore his name to the voter list?
Yes, individuals whose names are deleted in the draft stage can file claims or objections during the one-month window provided by the Election Commission.

2. Is the state government responsible for voter list updates?
No, the revision of electoral rolls is an independent function of the Election Commission of India.