Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Punjab, Raghav Chadha, has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of removing his name from the state's draft electoral rolls. Chadha, who recently left AAP to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), says the move is an act of political revenge.
According to the original story, Chadha stated that the AAP government in Punjab has taken its "politics of revenge" to the draft electoral rolls, "ensuring that his name was deleted from the rolls, classifying his name as 'shifted'."
Chadha Alleges AAP Leadership Behind Voter Roll Deletion
Chadha, who quit AAP along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs to join the BJP recently, said that his name was deleted only from the draft rolls. He alleged this was done at the behest of the AAP leadership, "who have full control" over the state government officials mapping the voter lists and verifying the classification.
The MP's claim points directly at the state machinery, suggesting that officials responsible for voter list verification acted under political pressure rather than following standard procedures.
AAP Responds: Election Commission Publishes Rolls, Not State Government
In a story that appeared in The Tribune this morning, an AAP spokesperson responded to the allegations. The spokesperson stated that it was the Election Commission which published the rolls and not the state government, "which has no role in deciding whose name is included or removed."
"It was the Election Commission which published the rolls and not the state government, which has no role in deciding whose name is included or removed." — AAP Spokesperson, as reported by The Tribune
This response shifts responsibility to the Election Commission, a constitutional body that operates independently of state governments. The AAP spokesperson's statement suggests that Chadha's allegations are unfounded because the state government lacks the authority to influence voter roll decisions.
The Core Dispute: Who Controls Voter Roll Changes?
The disagreement between Chadha and AAP centers on one key question: who is responsible for the deletion of his name from the draft electoral rolls?
- Chadha claims the AAP government directed officials to remove his name as political retaliation for his party switch.
- AAP insists the Election Commission independently manages the rolls, and the state government has no role in the process.
- The classification of Chadha's name as "shifted" is central to the dispute — Chadha argues this label is false and was used to remove him.
Draft electoral rolls are preliminary lists published for public review. Citizens can file claims and objections before the final rolls are confirmed. Chadha's name being marked as "shifted" would require him to correct the record through the formal process.
Our Take: Voter Roll Integrity Must Remain Above Politics
To put it plainly, this is a serious allegation that goes to the heart of democratic trust. Whether Chadha's name was removed for legitimate administrative reasons or as political payback, the perception of manipulation damages public confidence in the electoral process.
The AAP government's response — that the Election Commission handles the rolls — is technically correct but does not fully address the concern. State officials do assist in voter list mapping and verification, and if political leadership pressures those officials, the damage is done even if the final decision rests with the Election Commission.
In our view, the Election Commission must investigate this matter transparently. If Chadha's name was wrongly classified as "shifted," it must be corrected immediately. If there is evidence of political interference, those responsible should face consequences. Voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections — no political rivalry should ever touch them.
This incident also highlights a broader concern. When politicians switch parties, they should not fear administrative retaliation from their former colleagues. The system must protect every citizen's right to be on the electoral roll, regardless of their political affiliations.
The final electoral rolls will be published after the draft review process. Until then, Chadha's allegation and AAP's denial leave voters with an uncomfortable question: can they trust that their own names are safe from political games?