‘I am a sitting Rajya Sabha MP’: Raghav Chadha slams AAP govt over name deletion from Punjab SIR draft... - Moneycontrol.com

**Punjab Draft Electoral Roll Sparks Row Between Rajya Sabha MP and State Government**

New Delhi – A sitting Rajya Sabha member, Raghav Chadha of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has publicly accused the Punjab state government of deliberately removing his name from the draft Summary Revision of the electoral roll (SIR). In a series of statements to the media, Chadha said his entry was marked “shifted” and ultimately omitted from the list, a move he described as a “political vendetta” by the state administration, which is also led by AAP. The controversy erupted after the Election Commission of India (EC) released the draft rolls for Punjab on 29 August, prompting several candidates and party workers to scrutinise the entries for anomalies.

The Punjab state government swiftly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the electoral roll preparation is an independent exercise under the EC’s supervision and that no political influence is exercised over it. AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha lodged a formal query with the EC, asking whether the same procedural safeguards apply uniformly to all voters, including elected representatives. The EC, while confirming receipt of the grievance, said it would examine the specific case of Chadha’s name and ensure that any corrective action adheres to the statutory guidelines governing the SIR process.

Political analysts note that the episode arrives at a sensitive juncture, with Punjab heading toward assembly elections later this year. While the EC’s final roll is expected to be published in early September, the dispute highlights growing concerns over the transparency and impartiality of voter‑list revisions, especially when they involve high‑profile politicians. Both the central and state AAP leadership have called for a swift, impartial resolution, emphasizing that the integrity of the electoral roll must be preserved to maintain public confidence ahead of the polls.