Politics
Delhi Election Official Rejects AAP's Allegations Over BJP MP Raghav Chadha's Voter Registration
Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashok Kumar has rejected claims by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha's name was added to the Delhi electoral roll without following proper procedure. The dispute follows Chadha's earlier accusation that Punjab's AAP government engaged in a "political vendetta" against him after his name was listed under the "shifted" category in the state's draft electoral roll.
Chadha, who was previously a voter in Mohali, Punjab, was among seven of the ten AAP Rajya Sabha members who switched allegiance to the BJP in April.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged on Tuesday that Chadha had claimed to be a registered voter in Punjab and intended to re-register there once the Election Commission of India (ECI) finalized the electoral roll. Bharadwaj questioned how Chadha's name appeared on Delhi's draft electoral roll given that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) processes in Punjab and Delhi were happening simultaneously. He called on the ECI to clarify the procedure Chadha used, describing the situation as "abnormal" and unprecedented. The AAP further alleged that Chadha sought a backdated entry into the electoral rolls for Delhi's Rajinder Nagar constituency.
In response, Chadha stated he had followed all required guidelines and used legitimate remedies available to him. He accused the AAP of conflating electoral rolls with its own party membership records, alleging the party seeks to exclude anyone who leaves party chief Arvind Kejriwal and what he called the "corrupt AAP."
CEO Ashok Kumar clarified that voter additions, deletions, or modifications can only occur through Forms 6, 7, and 8, in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. He noted these forms can be submitted by any elector at any time during the year, and emphasized the commitment to a transparent and inclusive revision process.
Delhi's draft electoral roll, following the SIR, was published on August 31, based on enumeration forms collected between June 30 and August 17. Punjab's draft electoral roll was released earlier, on August 13.
Last week, Chadha alleged that Punjab government officials—including the booth-level officer (BLO), assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs), and the state CEO—were responsible for his classification as "shifted." He claimed these officials, whose transfers and career progress are controlled by the state government, acted under political pressure from the AAP administration. He also alleged that other former AAP lawmakers who joined the BJP faced similar treatment from Punjab's police and administrative machinery, claiming the AAP leadership was retaliating against him and others who left the party.
The AAP has denied these allegations, stating that the SIR process is conducted by the ECI, not by the state government.