Raghav Chadha’s Name Added to Delhi Electoral Roll After Form-6 Approval, EC Clarifies

Raghav Chadha’s Name Added to Delhi Voter List

Raghav Chadha’s name has officially been included in the electoral roll of Delhi’s Assembly Constituency 39, Rajinder Nagar.

The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s office said Chadha had submitted Form-6 on August 26 seeking inclusion of his name in the electoral roll. The application was subsequently approved on September 2 after the required procedure was completed.

The clarification was issued after the inclusion of Chadha’s name triggered a political controversy, with AAP questioning how the BJP leader’s name appeared in the Delhi electoral roll.

Election Commission Clarifies Form-6 Process

According to the Delhi CEO office, Chadha’s application was processed under the prescribed electoral rules.

Form-6 is the standard application used by eligible citizens to seek inclusion of their name in an electoral roll. The election authorities said the mandatory seven-day notice period was completed before the application was approved by the Electoral Registration Officer.

The clarification was aimed at addressing questions over whether Chadha’s name had been added outside the established electoral process.

AAP Questions Inclusion of Chadha’s Name

The development has led to criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party, which questioned the timing and procedure through which Chadha’s name was added to the Delhi voter list.

AAP leaders alleged that Chadha’s name had been added through the “back door” and demanded greater transparency regarding his Form-6 application. The party also questioned how his name appeared in the electoral database during the ongoing revision process.

AAP has sought publication of the relevant Form-6 application and argued that ordinary voters should have an opportunity to raise objections under the same process.

Why Raghav Chadha’s Voter Registration Became a Political Issue

The controversy gained attention because Chadha’s name had recently been removed from the draft electoral roll in Punjab during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

According to reports, his name was among those absent from the Punjab draft roll. The subsequent inclusion of his name in Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar electoral roll prompted questions from AAP regarding the timing and procedure involved.

Chadha, meanwhile, has maintained that he followed the Election Commission’s rules and procedures.

How Names Can Be Added During Electoral Roll Revision

The Delhi CEO office also clarified how names can appear in the electoral database during the revision process.

According to the explanation, once an eligible applicant’s Form-6 is approved, the person’s name can be added to the database following the last serial number appearing in the draft roll. The final electoral roll is published only after the revision period ends and claims and objections have been disposed of.

This distinction is important because the appearance of a name in the database before publication of the final electoral roll does not necessarily mean that the final roll has already been published.

What Is Form-6?

Form-6 is used by eligible citizens to apply for inclusion of their names in the electoral roll.

The form is particularly relevant for individuals who are seeking registration as voters in a constituency where they are eligible to be registered. Applications are examined by the appropriate electoral authorities before approval.

In Chadha’s case, the Delhi CEO office said the application was submitted on August 26 and approved on September 2 after the mandatory notice period and prescribed process were completed.

Rajinder Nagar Has Political Significance for Chadha

Rajinder Nagar has particular political significance for Raghav Chadha. He represented the constituency in the Delhi Assembly before moving to the Rajya Sabha in 2022.

Chadha won the Rajinder Nagar Assembly seat in the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections. He resigned from the Assembly after being elected to the Rajya Sabha, leading to a bypoll in the constituency in 2022.

His name being added to the electoral roll in the constituency therefore carries both administrative and political significance.

Electoral Roll Revision and Political Debate

The controversy surrounding Chadha’s registration comes against the backdrop of broader political debates over the Election Commission’s electoral-roll revision exercises.

AAP has questioned the transparency of the process, while the Delhi election authorities have maintained that Chadha’s application was processed according to established rules.

The latest clarification from the Delhi CEO office provides an official account of the procedure followed in adding Chadha’s name to the Rajinder Nagar electoral roll.

Conclusion

Raghav Chadha’s name has been added to the Delhi electoral roll for Rajinder Nagar after his Form-6 application was approved following the prescribed procedure, the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s office has clarified.

While the Aam Aadmi Party has raised questions over the timing and transparency of the inclusion, election authorities have said the application was submitted on August 26 and approved on September 2 after the mandatory notice period and due process were completed.

The issue is likely to remain politically significant as debate continues over electoral-roll revisions and the procedures governing the addition and deletion of voters’ names.