CHANDIGARH — The publication of Punjab’s draft electoral rolls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has sparked a high-profile political dispute between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the voter classification of sitting Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha.
Chadha, who transitioned from AAP to the BJP earlier this year, was listed as a “shifted” voter in his home precinct of Mohali, leading to sharp allegations of political targeting against the state administration.
Chadha’s Allegations and ECI Procedural Claims
Chadha questioned the procedural validity of the draft roll update, asserting that the listing bypassed established Election Commission protocols.
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Violation of Protected Category Guidelines: Citing Section 4(d) of the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines for Special Intensive Revisions, Chadha argued that elected public representatives fall under a protected category that mandates their retention on draft lists to allow full transparency during public revision phases.
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State Executive Influence: Chadha alleged that because field-level execution involves state cadres—such as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), and District Election Officers (DEOs)—the draft process was vulnerable to local political pressures.
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Provisional Draft Status: Chadha emphasized that the current rolls are preliminary draft figures subject to correction before final publication in October 2026.
Rebuttal by AAP and State Election Commission
The Aam Aadmi Party and state election authorities dismissed allegations of political interference, outlining the statutory framework governing the revision.
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Independent ECI Mandate: AAP leadership clarified that the Special Intensive Revision is ordered, managed, and executed under the direct oversight of the ECI, leaving state executive authorities with no jurisdiction over voter additions or deletions.
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Official Verification: Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra confirmed that a formal report has been requested from district election officials to review the factual basis of the entry.
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Claims and Objections Window: CEO Mitra noted that the statutory window for public claims, corrections, and objections remains open until September 13, 2026, offering a formal mechanism to resolve any discrepancies prior to the final locking of the rolls.
Sector Context
The dispute underscores the political sensitivity surrounding electoral roll updates in Punjab as parties prepare for the 2027 state assembly campaign. It highlights the role of the Election Commission’s multi-tiered appeal system in resolving voter verification disputes during active revision cycles.
