BJP MP Raghav Chadha's Name Removed From Punjab Voter Rolls

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha's name has been deleted from Punjab's draft electoral rolls, with his entry marked as 'permanently shifted'. This development has sparked a controversy, with Chadha accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of using the electoral revision exercise for 'political vendetta'.

Chadha, who is a sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, claimed that his name was removed despite his voter ID being registered in Mohali. He expressed suspicion over the deletion, saying it did not appear to be a mere clerical mistake and termed it 'a clear case of political vendetta'.

The BJP leader alleged that officials involved in the revision process could be vulnerable to political pressure as their postings and transfers are controlled by the state government. He also claimed that ever since he left the AAP, its leadership has been 'burning with anger', alleging that the Punjab Police and the state government's administrative machinery had been unleashed against those who refused to remain silent.

Chadha was initially registered as a voter in Delhi when he contested the 2022 Rajya Sabha election. After becoming a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, he shifted his electoral registration to Mohali and cast his vote there during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process allows voters to file claims and objections before the final electoral rolls are published. Chadha said the error could still be rectified through this process.

The AAP government in Punjab has not commented on the issue yet. However, Chadha's allegations have sparked a controversy, with the BJP leader claiming that other MPs who left the AAP and joined the BJP have also been targeted by the Punjab government.

This incident highlights the ongoing political tensions between the AAP and the BJP in Punjab. The AAP government has been facing criticism from the opposition over various issues, and this controversy is likely to escalate the political rivalry between the two parties.

The deletion of Chadha's name from the voter rolls has significant implications for the political landscape in Punjab. It raises questions about the independence of the electoral process and the potential for political interference in the revision of voter rolls.

In conclusion, the removal of Raghav Chadha's name from Punjab's draft electoral rolls has sparked a controversy, with the BJP MP accusing the AAP government of political vendetta. The incident highlights the ongoing political tensions in Punjab and raises questions about the independence of the electoral process.