Raghav Chadha: Name Removed From Punjab Voter List, MP Alleges Political Vendetta

In a significant political development in Punjab, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha has expressed strong resentment over the removal of his name from the draft voter list. The name of the MP was found missing from the Special Interim Revision (SIR) draft voter list, where he has been categorized as permanently shifted, while this move has sparked a heated political debate, with Chadha alleging that this isn't a mere administrative oversight but a calculated act of political vendetta by the state government led by Bhagwant Mann.

The SIR Campaign and Voter List Statistics

The Election Commission has been conducting the SIR campaign across Punjab to update the electoral rolls and ensure the accuracy of the voter database. As part of this extensive exercise, a draft voter list was released on August 13, 2026.66 lakh voters have been removed from the list across the state so far. 7 percent of the total voter base that existed before the commencement of the SIR process. In the case of Raghav Chadha, the entry against his name explicitly mentions him as permanently shifted, which led to the removal of his voting rights in the current draft despite his active status as a representative of the state.

Deadlines for Claims and Objections

According to the Election Commission, the process of filing claims and objections is currently underway following the release of the draft list. Individuals whose names have been removed from the voter list have until September 12, 2026, to raise their concerns. During this period, voters can apply to have their names reinstated by filling out Form 6. Raghav Chadha also has the opportunity to file his claims and objections by the September 12 deadline to ensure his name is included in the final electoral roll, which is scheduled to be published in October 2026.

Allegations of Political Vendetta

Raghav Chadha took to his X account to voice his concerns, stating that he's a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and his voter ID is registered in Mohali. He questioned how he could be marked as shifted when he continues to serve the state. Chadha emphasized that while these are only draft lists and corrections are possible during the claims and objections phase, the error itself is suspicious. He stated that he's already in the process of using the remedies provided under the SIR guidelines but maintained that this doesn't appear to be a minor clerical error. Instead, he termed it a clear case of political vendetta.

Pressure on State Officials

The MP further alleged that the Bhagwant Mann government is exerting pressure on state officials to carry out such actions, while he pointed out that from the Booth Level Officer (BLO) at the ground level to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab, the entire machinery consists of state government employees. He noted that a BLO is typically a junior employee of the Punjab government, while the intermediary officers like AERO, ERO, and DEO are also state officials. At the top, the Chief Electoral Officer is a Punjab-cadre IAS officer. Chadha argued that these officials are aware that their transfers, postings, and career progression are controlled by the AAP government, which uses this use to create political pressure and target opponents.

Violation of SIR Guidelines

Raghav Chadha specifically highlighted Paragraph 4(d) of the detailed SIR guidelines, which mandates a protected list for certain categories of individuals. This list includes members of the judiciary, public representatives, holders of declared offices, and prominent personalities from fields such as art, culture, journalism, sports, and public service. According to the guidelines, these individuals should be identified in the electoral database and included in the draft voter list to allow for the submission of necessary documents during the objection period, while chadha argued that as a sitting MP, he should have been protected under these guidelines, and the omission of his name is a deliberate violation of these instructions. He concluded by stating that while AAP may be in power, the draft voter list of Punjab isn't their private property, while it's noteworthy that Raghav Chadha was elected to the Rajya Sabha on an AAP ticket in 2022 but joined the BJP in April 2026.