Joined BJP, Then Disappeared From the Voter List: Coincidence or Political Revenge?

Raghav Chadha’s name missing from Punjab’s draft voter list has created a controversy that goes far beyond one politician. His name has been marked as “permanently shifted” during the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Chadha, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab as an AAP candidate in 2022 and joined the BJP in April 2026, says his voter ID is still registered in Mohali. He has therefore questioned how his name could suddenly be treated as that of a shifted voter. For Chadha, this looks less like a mistake and more like political revenge after his switch to the BJP.

And honestly, his question is difficult to ignore. If an ordinary voter finds their name missing, it is already a serious problem. But when the same thing happens to a sitting Rajya Sabha MP who recently changed political sides, people will naturally ask whether there is more to the story. Chadha has even questioned who marked him as “shifted” and who verified it. But suspicion is not proof. There is currently no established evidence that AAP ordered officials to remove his name.

The other side tells a completely different story. AAP says the Punjab government has no authority to decide whose name is added or removed because SIR is conducted by the Election Commission. The party has also claimed that Chadha lives in Delhi and questioned whether he was trying to shift his voter registration. A senior Election Commission official has rejected the suggestion of a backdoor attempt to add him to Delhi’s voter list.

There is also an important point that can easily get lost in the political shouting: this is a draft electoral roll, not the final list. Chadha can use the claims-and-objections process to get his name restored, and the final Punjab roll is scheduled for October.

The real question, therefore, is bigger than Raghav Chadha: was this simply an administrative mistake, or does the episode reveal how easily voter-list controversies can become political weapons? If it was an error, explain it. If it was deliberate, expose those responsible. Because in a democracy, even one voter’s name deserves an answer.