BJP Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha has alleged a political conspiracy after his name was marked as “shifted” in the draft electoral rolls prepared following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list in Punjab. The Raghav Chadha voter list controversy has triggered a political dispute, with Chadha questioning the reason behind the change in his voter registration status.
A voter in Mohali, Chadha asked why his name was marked as “shifted” when the entire exercise involved officers working under the Punjab Electoral system.
However, the AAP has rejected all such allegations and stated that the exercise is conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and not by the Punjab government.
The Punjab Chief Electoral Officer, Anindita Mitra, claimed that she has no knowledge about such deletion and she will be seeking a report from the District Electoral Authorities.
It is important to note that the electoral roll referred to in the above-mentioned case is a draft electoral roll which leaves room for checking through the process of claims and objections.
What happened to Raghav Chadha’s name?
Raghav Chadha’s name has been classified as “shifted” in Punjab’s draft electoral roll following the ongoing SIR exercise.
Chadha said his voter registration is in Mohali and questioned how a sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab could be classified as having shifted.
He alleged that the development was not simply a clerical error and accused the AAP-led Punjab Government of political vendetta.
These are Chadha’s allegations and have not been established as a finding by the Election Commission.
Why is Raghav Chadha calling it political vendetta?
Chadha has argued that the classification of his name as “shifted” is particularly significant because he is a sitting Member of Parliament from Punjab.
He also referred to provisions in the ECI’s SIR guidelines concerning public representatives and argued that his name should have remained in the draft roll if it had been flagged, allowing him to participate in the claims-and-objections process.
According to HNN 24×7 ‘s report, Chadha specifically cited Paragraph 4(d) of the ECI’s SIR guidelines in making this argument.
Chadha also questioned the role of officials involved at different levels of the electoral-roll revision process, including Booth Level Officers and electoral registration authorities.
What has AAP said about the Raghav Chadha voter list controversy?
AAP has denied responsibility for the removal or classification of Chadha’s name.
The party has argued that the Special Intensive Revision is conducted by the Election Commission, and that the Punjab Government does not decide which names are added to or removed from electoral rolls.
AAP has also alleged that Chadha had attempted to get his voter registration shifted to Delhi through what it described as a “backdated” process.
However, a senior Election Commission functionary has reportedly rejected the allegation of any such back-channel effort to include Chadha’s name in Delhi’s voter list.
Therefore, the Delhi-registration allegation should be presented as an AAP claim, rather than as an established fact.
What has the Election Commission said?
However, Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra informed HNN 24×7 that she had no information regarding the alleged deletion of Chadha’s name.
According to her, district election officers will be asked to provide detailed reports on whether the name has been deleted or categorized as shifted and, if yes, why so.
This is because the draft electoral roll may not be the final entry made by the voter. The claims and objections process gives the scope to eligible voters to contest their discrepancies.
ECI’s voter services portal has facilities wherein the electoral-roll information can be searched, downloaded, application tracked and appeal made.
What does “shifted” mean in a voter list?
A voter marked as “shifted” generally means the electoral-roll revision process has identified the person as no longer ordinarily residing at the address where they were previously registered.
Being marked “shifted” in a draft roll does not by itself establish that a person has permanently lost the right to vote.
The voter can use the prescribed claims, objections and correction mechanisms to have the record examined, subject to the applicable electoral rules.
Is Raghav Chadha’s name permanently deleted?
Not necessarily.
The controversy concerns the draft electoral roll, and the electoral revision process is still subject to claims, objections, verification and disposal by the competent election authorities.
The final status of Chadha’s registration therefore depends on the outcome of the electoral process rather than solely on the appearance of his name in the draft list.
How can a voter challenge an incorrect entry?
If a voter discovers that their name has been omitted, incorrectly classified or contains another discrepancy, they should use the official Election Commission voter-services channels and the applicable forms/process for their situation.
The ECI’s citizen portal allows voters to:
- Search their name in the electoral roll.
- Check polling and electoral information.
- Submit applications relating to voter registration.
- Track application status.
- Submit or track appeals.
- Contact or request assistance from a Booth Level Officer.
The official ECI voter portal is the safest source for checking the current status of an electoral registration.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an electoral-roll revision exercise conducted under the Election Commission’s authority to verify and update voter records.
The objective is to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls by identifying eligible voters, correcting records and addressing entries that may require deletion or verification.
The ECI’s official voter portal currently provides dedicated facilities for downloading SIR draft electoral rolls and searching electoral-roll information.
Why is the Raghav Chadha voter row politically significant?
The disagreement arises at a time when there is increased competition for political power in Punjab.
Chadha has served in the Rajya Sabha as an AAP nominee since 2022 before switching to the BJP party in 2026. This move in politics has increased the weight of the accusations and counter-accusations relating to his voter listing.
The disagreement also arises at a time when the Punjab assembly elections are coming up in 2027, which makes the issue of electoral roll all the more politically sensitive.
But the fact of being a political issue does not amount to it being a wrong one. The important facts at stake currently include whether Chadha’s voter listing was rightfully called ‘shifted’ and on what basis.
Raghav Chadha voter list controversy: What we know so far
| Question | Current position |
| Is Raghav Chadha’s name marked “shifted”? | His name has been reported as classified as shifted in Punjab’s draft electoral roll. |
| Where was he registered? | Chadha has said his voter registration is in Mohali, Punjab. |
| What does Chadha allege? | He alleges political vendetta by the AAP-led Punjab Government. |
| What does AAP say? | AAP denies responsibility and says SIR is conducted by the Election Commission. |
| Has the Election Commission confirmed political interference? | No such finding has been established in the reporting reviewed. |
| Has the final voter-roll status been decided? | The matter remains subject to the electoral-roll revision process. |
| Can a voter challenge an incorrect entry? | Yes. The ECI provides claims, objections, correction and appeal mechanisms. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Raghav Chadha marked as a shifted voter?
Raghav Chadha says his name was wrongly classified as “shifted” in Punjab’s draft electoral roll despite his voter registration being in Mohali. He has alleged political vendetta. Election authorities have indicated that the matter requires verification.
Is Raghav Chadha’s name deleted from the Punjab voter list?
His name has been reported as marked “shifted” in the draft electoral roll. That should not automatically be treated as a final deletion because the revision and claims process is ongoing.
What did AAP say about Raghav Chadha’s voter registration?
AAP denied involvement in the electoral-roll change and said the SIR exercise is conducted by the Election Commission. The party also made allegations concerning Chadha’s voter-registration status in Delhi. Those claims remain allegations.
Who controls the electoral-roll revision process?
The Election Commission of India administers the electoral process and electoral-roll revision. The ECI describes itself as an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering elections in India.
Can a voter challenge a name marked as shifted?
Yes. Voters who find discrepancies in the draft electoral roll can use the official claims, objections, correction and appeal mechanisms applicable to their case.
How can I check my name in the Punjab voter list?
Voters can use the official ECI citizen portal to search their name in the electoral roll and access voter-registration services.
Bottom line
The Raghav Chadha voter-list controversy is presently a legal issue in which he is identified as a “shifted” voter in the draft list of Punjab’s electoral roll.
According to Chadha, there is political vendetta against him. In contrast, AAP denies any involvement and states that the drafting of the electoral roll is an EC process. The Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab has mentioned that the issue has to be verified with the concerned district election authorities.
It will be too early to consider this event a case of political tampering or a final removal of Chadha’s electoral status until these steps are taken and the issue is sorted out through the claims-and-objections process.
The message for the electorate remains clear-cut: check your status in the official electoral roll, raise the issue with EC through the proper process, and leave it to the competent authorities.
