BJP MP Raghav Chadha responded to allegations from the Aam Aadmi Party regarding the appearance of his name on Delhi’s draft electoral rolls by comparing his former party to a rejected romantic partner. Chadha, who switched from AAP to the BJP, has faced ongoing criticism from his previous organisation.
Speaking to reporters about questions over how his name was added to the draft list, Chadha said AAP had reached a point where he appeared in their thoughts like a ghost. He described the party as resembling an ex-girlfriend whose partner had moved on, yet who remained intensely attached. He further remarked that he was concerned the party might act like a heartbroken lover and expressed worry on their behalf.
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj had earlier raised the issue, stating that Chadha’s name appeared as the 747th voter in the Rajinder Nagar electoral roll. According to Bharadwaj, the draft roll published on August 31 showed only 746 voters at the booth linked to Chadha’s former residence. He called it a factual matter rather than a mere allegation and sought explanations from both the Election Commission and Chadha on the process followed.
The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi issued a clarification, stating that Chadha’s name was included in the electoral roll of Assembly Constituency-39 (Rajinder Nagar) after the prescribed procedure was followed. The statement noted that the issue had been raised by AAP during a press conference on September 8.
The exchange continues the public friction between Chadha and his former party since his departure. AAP has questioned the timing and manner of the name’s reappearance on the Delhi rolls, while Chadha has framed the party’s focus on him as lingering personal attachment rather than a substantive electoral concern. Officials have maintained that the addition complied with established electoral rules.