‘Political Vendetta’: Raghav Chadha Hits Out At AAP After Name Marked ‘Permanently Shifted’ In Punjab Draft SIR

Raghav Chadha’s Name Marked ‘Permanently Shifted’ In Punjab Draft SIR

A fresh political controversy has emerged in Punjab after Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha alleged that his name was wrongly marked as “permanently shifted” in the state’s draft electoral rolls prepared under the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Chadha, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an AAP nominee in 2022 and joined the BJP in April 2026, has described the development as an instance of political Vendetta.

According to the draft electoral roll published on August 13, Chadha’s name appears in the ASDD category, covering electors classified as absent, shifted, deceased or duplicate. His entry has reportedly been marked as “permanently shifted.” Chadha has maintained that his voter registration was in Mohali, Punjab, and questioned the basis for the classification.

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Raghav Chadha Alleges Political Vendetta By AAP Government

Reacting to the development, Raghav Chadha accused the Punjab government led by AAP of taking what he called its “politics of revenge” into the electoral-roll process. He argued that the deletion does not appear to be a routine clerical error and alleged that it represents political Vendetta following his departure from the party.

Chadha also questioned which officials marked, verified and processed his status as “shifted.” He claimed that several levels of officials involved in the electoral revision process are associated with the state government and suggested that administrative officers could be vulnerable to political pressure.

However, these allegations remain claims made by Chadha and have been rejected by the Punjab government and AAP.

AAP Rejects Raghav Chadha’s Allegations

The AAP has denied having any role in the deletion of Chadha’s name. The party and a senior Punjab government official said that the Special Intensive Revision is conducted by the Election Commission and that the state government does not decide which names are included in or removed from electoral rolls.

AAP has also argued that Chadha’s voter registration status is his responsibility and questioned his claim that the party or Punjab government was responsible for the change. The political dispute therefore centres on two competing positions: Chadha alleges administrative action motivated by political Vendetta, while AAP maintains that the electoral revision is an Election Commission exercise.

Why The Punjab SIR Revision Matters

The controversy involving Raghav Chadha comes amid a large-scale revision of Punjab’s electoral rolls. Around 20.66 lakh names, representing roughly 9.7% of the pre-SIR electorate in the state, were excluded from the draft roll. The deleted entries include voters categorised as permanently shifted, deceased, untraceable or duplicate.

The Election Commission’s SIR process is intended to update electoral records and identify entries that require verification. Because the current list is only a draft electoral roll, exclusion at this stage does not necessarily represent a final deletion. Voters have an opportunity to submit claims and objections before the final roll is prepared.

Chadha Cites SIR Guidelines For Public Representatives

One of the key points raised by Raghav Chadha concerns Paragraph 4(d) of the Election Commission’s detailed SIR guidelines. Chadha has said that the guidelines provide for the inclusion in the draft roll of names of certain public representatives and other specified categories when they have previously been flagged in the electoral database.

He argues that, as a sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, his name should have been included in the draft electoral roll if it had been flagged for verification. Chadha therefore considers his classification as “permanently shifted” inconsistent with the provision he cited.

The issue has added another dimension to the political debate because it involves not only Chadha’s individual voter record but also questions about how electoral verification procedures are implemented.

Claims And Objections Process Offers A Remedy

Despite his strong criticism of AAP, Chadha has acknowledged that the present electoral roll is still provisional. He said that the claims-and-objections mechanism provides an opportunity to correct the classification and restore his name if the authorities determine that it was wrongly removed.

For Punjab, the claims and objections period runs from August 13 to September 12, while the final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on October 12, 2026. This means the controversy is not necessarily the final word on Chadha’s voter-registration status.

Raghav Chadha’s Political Shift Adds Context

The dispute has gained considerable attention because of Raghav Chadha’s recent political transition. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab as an AAP candidate in 2022 but joined the BJP in April 2026 along with other former AAP Rajya Sabha MPs.

His departure had already triggered political exchanges between Chadha and his former party. AAP leaders had criticised his move, while Chadha had rejected accusations against him as politically motivated. The latest voter-roll controversy has consequently become another flashpoint in the relationship between Chadha and his former party.

What Happens Next In The Punjab Draft SIR Case?

The immediate focus will be on the claims-and-objections process and the eventual publication of Punjab’s final electoral rolls. Raghav Chadha has indicated that he intends to use the remedies available under the SIR framework to challenge the “permanently shifted” classification.

At the same time, AAP and the Punjab government continue to deny responsibility for the deletion and maintain that the electoral revision is under the Election Commission’s authority. The final outcome will therefore depend on the verification and correction process rather than the current draft list alone.

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The Raghav Chadha-AAP dispute highlights how an administrative electoral exercise can quickly become a significant political controversy, particularly when the person affected is a prominent political figure who recently changed parties. For now, Chadha has characterised the development as political Vendetta, while AAP has rejected the charge and the draft SIR process remains ongoing.