The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fired back at BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha after his name was marked as "shifted" in the draft electoral rolls in Punjab. The party accuses Chadha of trying to get his voter registration transferred to Delhi through a backdated process.
AAP Accuses Chadha of Backdated Voter Transfer
The dispute centers on Chadha's name appearing as "shifted" in the draft electoral rolls in Punjab. AAP claims that Chadha attempted to move his voter registration to Delhi using a backdated method, and is now trying to shift the blame onto the party and the Punjab government.
According to the original story, AAP stated on X (formerly Twitter): "Raghav Chadha has been caught by a National Daily English Newspaper, trying to get his voter registration made in Delhi through a backdated process, and is now attempting to put the entire blame on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Punjab government."
SIR Process Explained in the Dispute
The argument touches on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. AAP has pointed out that this process is conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), not by the Punjab government.
The party's response came after Chadha posted about the issue on X. AAP's reply included the pointed remark that Chadha "lives in Delhi, not in Punjab," suggesting his voter registration should reflect his actual residence.
"You live in Delhi, not in Punjab" — AAP's response to Raghav Chadha
Our Take: Voter Rolls Should Reflect Reality
To put it plainly, this is a messy political fight, but the core issue matters for every voter. Electoral rolls must be accurate, and the process for updating them must be transparent.
If Chadha genuinely lives in Delhi, then his name being shifted there makes sense. But the accusation of a "backdated process" raises questions about how and when such changes were made. AAP's point that the SIR is run by the ECI, not the Punjab government, is a fair one — it means the party alone cannot be responsible for how names appear in the rolls.
In our view, the real lesson here is that voter registration rules need to be followed strictly by everyone, including politicians. When public figures are seen trying to bend the rules — or are accused of doing so — it undermines trust in the electoral system. The ECI should clarify how Chadha's name was marked and whether the process was followed correctly. Voters deserve clarity, not a blame game between political parties.