3 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of political vendetta after his name was found missing from the state’s draft electoral rolls.
Chadha, who quit AAP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in April 2026, said his name had been marked as “shifted” during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He alleged that the move was deliberate and linked to his departure from AAP.
Chadha Calls Deletion ‘Political Vendetta’
Reacting to the omission, Chadha said he was still a sitting Rajya Sabha MP and questioned how his name could be removed from the Punjab voter list.
He alleged that the action was not a routine clerical mistake and suggested that the AAP government was targeting him after he left the party and joined the BJP.
Chadha also argued that the voter-list exercise had political implications, particularly because he remains a representative from Punjab in the Rajya Sabha.
Name Listed Under ‘Shifted’ Category
According to reports citing Election Commission records, Chadha’s name appears in the list of voters excluded from the draft roll under the category indicating that the voter has shifted residence.
Chadha, however, has maintained that he remains a Punjab voter and has questioned the basis on which he was classified as having moved away.
AAP, Punjab Government Deny Allegation
The Punjab government and AAP have rejected Chadha’s allegation of political vendetta.
Officials have pointed out that the electoral-roll revision is being conducted under the authority of the Election Commission of India, rather than the state government.
The response also highlights that Chadha currently lives in Delhi and that maintaining and updating an individual’s voter registration is ultimately the voter’s responsibility.
Draft Roll, Not Final Voter List
An important point in the controversy is that the current list is a draft electoral roll, meaning the omission is not necessarily permanent.
Chadha has indicated that he intends to seek correction of his entry before the final electoral roll is published. This provides an opportunity for affected voters to file claims and objections regarding their inclusion or exclusion.
Over 20 Lakh Names Removed in Punjab
The controversy comes amid a much wider revision of Punjab’s electoral rolls.
Reports say around 20.66 lakh names have been removed from the draft rolls in Punjab during the SIR exercise. Chadha’s case has attracted additional political attention because of his high-profile departure from AAP and subsequent move to the BJP.
Chadha Joined BJP After AAP Exit
Chadha was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab as an AAP member in 2022.
He later left AAP and joined the BJP in April 2026, along with several other Rajya Sabha MPs who had been associated with the party. His departure marked a major shift in Punjab’s political landscape and intensified tensions between him and his former party.
Political Row Intensifies Ahead of Punjab Elections
The voter-roll controversy has emerged as political activity increases in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
With Chadha now aligned with the BJP, his allegations against the AAP government are likely to add another layer to the growing political confrontation between the two parties.