Punjab BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha's name has been added to the voters list of Delhi during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the national capital's electoral rolls, according to poll officials. The revision process, which began on June 16, froze the electoral roll until August 31, when the draft rolls were published. Chadha's name was included in the list of 700 forms approved by electoral registration officers (EROs) in 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi, as per an official at the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) raised concerns about the inclusion of Chadha's name in the Rajinder Nagar Assembly constituency's electoral roll, alleging that the process did not follow due procedure. AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj noted that the draft roll published on August 31 listed 746 voters, yet Chadha's name appeared as the 747th voter in the Rajinder Nagar electoral roll. Bharadwaj questioned how the additional entry was made and called for the Election Commission to clarify the procedure followed.

The Delhi CEO office stated that Forms-6, 7, and 8 submitted by electors during the pre-SIR period and the claims and objections phase are under review. Once approved, changes will be reflected in the electoral database. The final additions of electors will be published as a supplementary list on November 4. During the frozen period, approximately 2.14 lakh Forms-6 were submitted, and an additional 25,011 Forms-6 were submitted in eight days (till September 7) for inclusion in the final rolls.

The AAP's concerns highlight potential procedural irregularities in the SIR process, which is designed to update and verify electoral rolls. The inclusion of Chadha's name, a former AAP member who was sent to the Rajya Sabha by his previous party, has sparked scrutiny over the transparency and accuracy of the revision process.

The SIR process, which involves the submission of Forms-6, 7, and 8, aims to ensure that the electoral rolls are up-to-date and accurate. However, the AAP's allegations suggest that the process may have been bypassed or mismanaged in Chadha's case. The Election Commission has not yet responded to the AAP's queries, leaving the procedural validity of Chadha's inclusion in question.

The final publication of the updated electoral rolls is scheduled for November 4, with additions and deletions to be reflected in the database. While the SIR process is intended to enhance electoral accuracy, the inclusion of Chadha's name without clear procedural justification raises concerns about the integrity of the process. The AAP's challenge underscores the need for transparency and adherence to established procedures in electoral roll management.

What remains unknown is the exact process by which Chadha's name was added to the electoral rolls and whether any procedural lapses occurred. The Election Commission has not provided a detailed explanation, and no official response from Chadha's party has been made available. The AAP's allegations remain unaddressed, leaving the situation open to further scrutiny and potential legal or administrative review.