Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Raghav Chadha, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP, issued his first public response on Friday, April 3, 2026, regarding his removal from the post of Deputy Leader in the Upper House. In an emotional video message shared on social media platform X, Chadha asserted that while he has been silenced, he is not defeated. He questioned the party’s decision to request the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to deny him speaking time, asking how raising public issues like high taxes, banking penalties, and the struggles of gig workers could possibly harm the party’s interests. Chadha characterized himself as a river that would turn into a storm when the time is right, though he notably avoided naming specific leaders or detailing his future political strategy.
The Aam Aadmi Party immediately launched a coordinated counter-offensive, with senior leaders and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann labelling Chadha as “compromised.” Party national spokesperson Anurag Dhanda criticized Chadha for focusing on trivial matters, such as the price of samosas in airport canteens, rather than tackling major national issues or directly challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party leadership further alleged that Chadha had refused to sign a joint opposition proposal regarding the Election Commission in West Bengal and failed to join party walkouts in the House.
Key points of contention in the AAP-Chadha rift:
The Aam Aadmi Party highlighted Chadha’s absence during critical periods, specifically noting that he was in the UK for an eye surgery while party convenor Arvind Kejriwal was being arrested in the Delhi liquor scam case. Leaders like Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi Marlena suggested that Chadha has developed a “politics of fear,” pointing out that he has failed to raise the issue of Punjab’s withheld Rural Development Fund (RDF) or the legal cases against AAP workers in Gujarat. The party replaced him with Ashok Mittal, the Chancellor of Lovely Professional University, as the new Deputy Leader, signaling a shift toward a less confrontational and more “dialogue-oriented” style within the Rajya Sabha.
Raghav Chadha defended his parliamentary record by sharing a compilation of his speeches covering a diverse range of topics, from the “Somalia-like services” provided in exchange for “England-level taxes” to the lack of banking access in rural areas. He argued that his advocacy for a 30-day mobile recharge cycle, paternity leave as a legal right, and affordable healthcare for cancer patients travelling from Bathinda to Bikaner was intended to benefit the common man. However, the party views these efforts as “soft PR” designed to build an individual brand that is increasingly at odds with the party’s central anti-establishment stance.
Current status and future implications:
Raghav Chadha’s term as a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab continues until 2028, but his future within the party remains highly uncertain following this public fallout. While he emphasized his loyalty to the “common man,” the scathing remarks from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other senior leaders suggest an irreparable chasm. The new Deputy Leader, Ashok Mittal, has already stated that he will not attempt to mimic any previous leader’s style, focusing instead on his own experience to bridge the gap between the government and the opposition.
