BJP leader alleges political vendetta over electoral roll entry; Punjab CEO says omissions in draft can be corrected through due process
BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has accused the Punjab government of political vendetta after his name was reportedly placed under the “shifted” category in the state’s draft electoral roll.
Chadha, who has been a voter in Mohali, alleged that officials involved in the electoral revision process deliberately marked his name as shifted following his move from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the BJP. He claimed that booth-level and electoral registration officials were being subjected to political pressure through the state’s administrative machinery.
Chadha also alleged that other former AAP lawmakers who switched to the BJP had faced similar action. He accused the Punjab government of using its police and administrative machinery to target political defectors.
The AAP government, however, distanced itself from the controversy, saying the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is conducted by the Election Commission and that the state government has no role in the process.
The Punjab Chief Electoral Officer’s office declined to comment on the political allegations but said the roll is still in draft form. Officials assured that any genuine omission can be rectified through the prescribed procedure before finalisation.
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