State Bureau, Chandigarh. A fresh political controversy has emerged in Punjab over the draft electoral roll prepared under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha's name has reportedly been marked as 'shifted', indicating that the voter has moved to another location. The development has triggered a political dispute, with Chadha accusing the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab of political retaliation.

Chadha has questioned how his name could be classified as 'shifted' when he remains a sitting Rajya Sabha member from Punjab and his voter ID is registered in Mohali. He has argued that the classification does not appear to be a routine clerical error and has demanded accountability for the process through which his name was marked.

The Punjab government, however, has distanced itself from the controversy and stated that the SIR exercise is conducted under the authority of the Election Commission in accordance with the law. The government has maintained that the state administration has no direct role in deciding the electoral revision process.

 Chadha Accuses AAP Government of Political Retaliation

Raghav Chadha has publicly criticised the Punjab government over the issue, alleging that political retaliation has now reached the draft voter list.

At the same time, the Rajya Sabha MP pointed out that the current electoral roll is only a draft and not the final voter list. He said that the claims and objections process is still pending and that he would use the remedies available under the SIR guidelines to challenge what he described as an incorrect classification.

Chadha has said that he intends to ensure that the error is corrected before the final voter list is published in October 2026.

 Questions Raised Over the SIR Process

The MP has also raised questions about the various administrative levels involved in the electoral revision exercise.

According to Chadha, the Booth Level Officer, or BLO, generally works at the grassroots level and is part of the state administrative machinery. He also referred to officials such as the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer, Electoral Registration Officer and District Electoral Officer, who play important roles in the voter-list verification process.

Chadha further referred to the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab and questioned how responsibility is assigned at different stages of the process, from field-level verification to higher-level processing.

 Allegations of Pressure on Officials

Chadha has alleged that government officials involved in electoral duties are aware that transfers, postings and other career-related decisions are controlled through the state administrative system. He claimed that this creates the possibility of political pressure on officials handling such processes.

The MP alleged that the Punjab government has been using its administrative machinery against people who have disagreed with the Aam Aadmi Party leadership.

He also claimed that other MPs who left the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party have faced similar targeting. According to Chadha, the marking of his name as 'shifted' is the latest instance of what he describes as political retaliation.

 Chadha's Political Background

Raghav Chadha became a Rajya Sabha member in 2022 on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket. He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Against this political backdrop, the marking of his name as 'shifted' in the draft voter list has become a matter of political debate.

Chadha has emphasised that his voter ID remains registered in Mohali, Punjab. He has therefore questioned the basis on which he was classified as having shifted from the location.

Since the current electoral roll is only a draft, the matter is expected to go through the claims and objections process before the final roll is prepared.

 MP Cites SIR Guidelines

Chadha has also cited a provision in the SIR guidelines concerning certain categories of individuals, including elected representatives.

According to his interpretation of paragraph 4(d) of the guidelines, names of judges, elected representatives, holders of notified positions and prominent individuals from areas such as art, culture, journalism, sports and public service are subject to specific provisions where they have previously been flagged in electoral databases.

Chadha has argued that such names should remain included in the draft electoral roll so that necessary documents can be collected during the claims and objections period.

He has used this provision to question why his name was classified as 'shifted' despite his position as a sitting Rajya Sabha member representing Punjab.

 What Happens Next?

The draft electoral roll is not the final voter list. Following its publication, eligible voters have an opportunity to check their details and submit claims or objections if they find errors or incorrect classifications.

Chadha has said he will use this process to challenge the 'shifted' classification and seek correction before the final electoral roll is published.

The next stage of the process will therefore be important in determining whether his name is restored with the correct status in the final list.

For now, the controversy has become another political flashpoint in Punjab. While Raghav Chadha has described the classification as an instance of political retaliation, the Punjab government has rejected any direct responsibility and maintained that the SIR exercise falls under the Election Commission's legal framework.

The final position is expected to become clearer after the claims and objections process and the publication of the final electoral roll.