'Permanently Shifted': Raghav Chadha’s Name Removed From Punjab Voter Rolls, MP Alleges Vendetta

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of political vendetta after his name was categorized as "permanently shifted" in the state's draft electoral rolls. The classification led to the deletion of his name from the voter list in SAS Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, as part of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Chadha, who was elected to the Upper House as an AAP nominee in 2022 before defecting to the BJP earlier this year, alleged that the classification was a deliberate attempt by state officials to target political opponents. The Aam Aadmi Party and state government officials have strongly denied the claims, clarifying that the electoral revision is managed entirely by the Election Commission and that the state administration has no role in deciding entries on the rolls. BJP MP Raghav Chadha Slams AAP Over ‘Financial Betrayal’ in Punjab, Accuses Party of Turning ‘Rangla’ Punjab Into ‘Kangla’.

Row Over Draft Electoral Roll Status

The controversy emerged following the publication of the draft voter list for Punjab. Electoral records under the "Absent, Shifted, Deceased, and Duplicate" (ASDD) category marked Chadha as "permanently shifted."

Reacting to the update, Chadha stated that his primary voter registration was in Mohali, where he previously exercised his franchise during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He contended that classifying a sitting Rajya Sabha MP representing Punjab as "shifted" goes beyond a simple administrative oversight.

Chadha argued that the entry violated Paragraph 4(d) of the ECI’s guidelines for the Special Intensive Revision, which outlines specific protocols for public representatives including MPs, MLAs, and judges to ensure their names remain included on draft rolls pending verification. Raghav Chadha Faces Social Media Backlash After BJP Switch; Instagram Followers See Sharp Drop.

Raghav Chadha’s Name Deleted From Punjab Voter List

The AAP government in Punjab has now taken its politics of revenge to the Draft Electoral Rolls.

I am a sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, with my voter ID registered in Mohali, Punjab. Yet my name has been classified as “shifted” in the draft electoral rolls.

Thankfully,… pic.twitter.com/laAFAAWYiQ

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) September 3, 2026

Allegations of Administrative Pressure

In a public statement, Chadha asserted that field officials involved in the voter roll update—ranging from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to senior administrative staff—operate under the administrative jurisdiction of the Punjab state government.

He alleged that state officials are subject to political pressure regarding postings and transfers once election duties conclude, claiming this environment contributed to the wrongful categorization of his voter status. Chadha maintained that former AAP leaders who recently crossed over to rival political parties are being targeted systematically through administrative mechanisms.

He added that since the published rolls are currently at the draft stage, he will utilize the official "Claims and Objections" window provided by the Election Commission to rectify the entry before the final electoral rolls are published.

AAP Denies Role, Cites Election Commission Rules

Responding to the allegations, the Aam Aadmi Party and Punjab government representatives rejected Chadha's claims, emphasizing that the state government plays no role in the process.

AAP Rejects Raghav Chadha’s Allegations

Raghav Chadha has been caught by a National Daily English Newspaper, trying to get his voter registration made in Delhi through a backdated process, and is now attempting to put the entire blame on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Punjab government.

SIR is conducted by the Election… https://t.co/RDXkoGkGeI

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) September 3, 2026

A spokesperson for AAP stated that the Special Intensive Revision is designed, executed, and supervised independently by the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). The party noted that state governments do not hold authority over the addition or deletion of voters from electoral databases.

Furthermore, AAP highlighted that Chadha primarily resides in Delhi, adding that updating or maintaining voter registration status in accordance with residence rules is the individual voter's responsibility. Senior state officials reiterated that the CEO functions as an authority designated by the Election Commission, operating independently of the state cabinet.

Next Steps in Electoral Revision

The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision process allows affected citizens to seek corrections during the public window for claims and objections. ECI guidelines specify that any voter listed under the draft deletion categories can file necessary forms alongside residence proof to seek restoration or modification of their voter status prior to the publication of final electoral rolls.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2026 09:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).