Raghav Chadha's Name Marked 'Shifted' in Punjab Draft Voter Rolls; AAP Denies Role

A fresh political controversy has emerged in Punjab after BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha claimed that his name had been marked as “shifted” in the state’s draft electoral rolls. Chadha questioned how his voter registration could be categorised in such a manner when he continues to reside in the state and remains a sitting Rajya Sabha member representing Punjab.

The dispute comes amid the ongoing revision of electoral rolls in Punjab. Chadha alleged that his name had been placed in the category of voters considered absent, shifted, deceased or having duplicate entries. According to reports, his name was specifically marked under the “permanently shifted” category.

Reacting to the development, Chadha alleged that the move could be linked to political differences. He questioned the basis on which his voter entry was classified as shifted and sought clarity over who had verified the information. The BJP leader also highlighted that his electoral registration is associated with Mohali.

The allegation has drawn a response from the Aam Aadmi Party, which has rejected any suggestion that it was responsible for the change. AAP maintained that the revision of electoral rolls is being conducted by the Election Commission and that the state government does not have the authority to independently remove or alter individual voter entries.

The political dispute is particularly significant because Chadha was previously a prominent AAP leader before joining the BJP. His departure from AAP has been followed by increasing political friction between the two sides, adding a political dimension to the latest disagreement over his electoral registration.

Punjab is currently undergoing an extensive exercise to revise its electoral rolls. During such revisions, electoral authorities examine voter records to identify people who may have died, moved permanently, have duplicate registrations or cannot be verified at their existing address. Names appearing in the draft list can subsequently be challenged through the claims and objections process.

The fact that Chadha's name is missing from the draft roll does not necessarily mean that his registration has been permanently cancelled. The draft electoral roll is subject to corrections and objections before the final list is published. Eligible voters whose names have been left out can approach the appropriate election authorities and submit the required documents to establish their eligibility.

AAP, meanwhile, has raised questions about Chadha’s own voter-registration status and has accused him of attempting to move his registration to Delhi. The party has used the issue to counter Chadha’s allegations and reiterate that the electoral revision is an Election Commission process rather than an action taken by the Punjab government.

The controversy highlights the importance of keeping voter records accurate during large-scale electoral revisions. While political parties often interpret changes in voter lists through a political lens, the final determination rests with the competent election authorities and the established claims and objections procedure.

The immediate issue is whether his name will be restored to the final Punjab electoral roll. The Election Commission’s subsequent decisions and the documents submitted during the objection process are likely to determine the outcome. As the political debate continues, the episode has once again brought Punjab’s electoral-roll revision into the spotlight, with both Chadha and AAP presenting sharply different explanations for the disappearance of his name from the draft list.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Hindu.