Raghav Chadha’s Name Removed From Punjab Draft Voter Rolls, AAP Accused Of Political Vendetta

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha’s name has been excluded from Punjab’s draft electoral rolls prepared as part of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR), triggering a fresh political controversy in the state.

Chadha’s entry appears in the ASDD — Absent, Shifted, Deceased and Duplicate — list released on August 13, with the reason for deletion recorded as “permanently shifted”. He is among approximately 20.66 lakh voters, accounting for nearly 9.7% of Punjab’s electorate before the SIR exercise, whose names have been left out of the draft rolls.

Chadha alleges political revenge

Reacting to the deletion, Chadha questioned why he had been classified as having shifted when his voter ID is registered in Mohali.

The BJP leader alleged that the move was not an administrative error but an instance of political retaliation by the AAP-led Punjab government following his exit from the party.

Chadha said the electoral rolls are still at the draft stage and that he has already begun using the remedies available to voters under the SIR process.

He alleged that the state government was misusing its administrative machinery against political leaders who had left the AAP.

«“This does not seem like a mere clerical mistake. This is a clear case of political vendetta,” Chadha said.»

He further alleged that the AAP leadership had been angered by his decision to leave the party and claimed that other Rajya Sabha MPs who also switched from AAP to the BJP had faced similar targeting.

Raises issue of protected category

Chadha also referred to the SIR guidelines, claiming that provisions providing a “protected list” for public representatives, including MPs and MLAs, had been deliberately disregarded in his case.

He argued that Punjab’s draft electoral rolls could not be treated as the property of the ruling party and demanded accountability over the classification of his name.

Chadha, 37, resigned from the AAP and joined the BJP in April along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs. At the time, he said the AAP had moved away from its founding principles and values.

The AAP, however, criticised his decision and accused him of being opportunistic, while also questioning his absence from important political campaigns, protests and party activities.

Objection window open until September 12

The SIR exercise is currently in its claims and objections phase. Voters can raise objections or seek corrections until September 12.

The final electoral rolls for Punjab are expected to be published in October 2026.

Voter roll deletion does not end Rajya Sabha membership

Chadha’s removal from the Punjab draft electoral rolls does not automatically affect his position as a Rajya Sabha member representing the state.

A 2003 amendment to the Representation of the People Act removed the earlier requirement that a Rajya Sabha candidate must be registered as a voter in the state from which they contest or represent.