Raghav Chadha Marked As 'Shifted' Voter In Punjab SIR Rolls, Alleges AAP Vendetta - ndtv.com

**Raghav Chadha’s Name Marked “Shifted” in Punjab Draft Electoral Roll**

The draft Special Incremental Roll (SIR) for Punjab released by the State Election Commission on 30 August listed Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha as a “shifted” voter, effectively deleting his entry from the electoral roll for the state. Chadha, a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Uttar Pradesh, discovered the change while reviewing his voter details online and immediately lodged a complaint with the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). In a series of statements to the media, Chadha alleged that the omission was not a clerical error but a “political vendetta” orchestrated by elements within his own party, citing internal disputes over candidate selection and his recent criticism of certain party decisions.

The AAP quickly rebutted Chadha’s claims, asserting that the “shifted” tag simply reflects a pending address change that the party’s members are required to update in the electoral database. AAP spokesperson Manish Sisodia emphasized that the party has no influence over the independent functioning of the election machinery and warned that unfounded accusations could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. The Punjab CEO, meanwhile, clarified that the SIR is a provisional document subject to verification and that any discrepancies would be rectified before the final roll is published. The commission invited Chadha and other aggrieved voters to submit supporting documents for correction, promising a review within ten working days.

The episode has ignited a broader debate on the reliability of voter‑list updates ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections in Punjab, scheduled for early 2027. Opposition parties have seized on the controversy to demand greater transparency from the Election Commission of India and state authorities, while the AAP leadership has called for calm and urged stakeholders to let the procedural mechanisms run their course. If Chadha’s name is reinstated, it would underscore the routine nature of SIR adjustments; if not, it could fuel intra‑party tensions and provide ammunition to rival factions seeking to portray the AAP as riddled with internal discord. The final roll, expected to be published in September, will determine whether the incident remains a procedural footnote or escalates into a political flashpoint.