The Opposition has intensified its attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after it replaced Raghav Chadha as deputy leader of the Rajya Sabha, with several leaders describing the move as an indication of deeper divisions within the party.
From the BJP, Ramveer Singh Bidhuri questioned the party’s performance, saying: “Raghav Chadha was with me in the Delhi Assembly, and he is a good speaker. If the AAP leadership stops his speech, it is a complete dictatorship.”
Speaking to news agency ANI, he said: “I ask Arvind Kejriwal where does democracy remain in their party? If the AAP leadership takes such a decision, I condemn it… This is their internal matter, but to prevent the senior MP of your party from speaking, no other party leadership has ever done that.”
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Congress leader Mallu Ravi also claimed that the decision is against democratic values. “It is possible that there will be disagreements between parties and members, but this has now exceeded expectations… This kind of practice may not be healthy for democracy,” he told ANI.
BJP and Congress see Kejriwal’s angle
The BJP linked this development to the alleged dispute between Chadha and party president Kejriwal.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva claimed, “The way Raghav Chadha was replaced and sidelined shows that he has distanced himself from the chaotic and corrupt leadership of Arvind Kejriwal.”
Sachdeva further claimed that Chadha is the second senior AAP leader after Swati Maliwal who has differences with the leadership. “First it was Swati Maliwal and now Raghav Chadha, both key figures in AAP Delhi, who seem to have moved away from Kejriwal’s style of working,” he said.
Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Waring echoed similar sentiments, noting Chadha’s absence from recent party events. “People realized this long ago, when he went to London during Kejriwal’s arrest. The general perception now is that Chadha will either leave the party or be removed from it and join somewhere else,” ANI quoted him as saying.
Chadha had earlier said that he was in London for an eye surgery when Kejriwal was arrested in the tax policy case in March 2024.
AAP calls it “internal restructuring.”
AAP has replaced Chadha with Ashok Mittal as deputy leader in the Senate, with party leaders stressing that the move is part of a routine organizational shake-up.
Rajya Sabha leader Sanjay Singh said the decision has been officially communicated. “The Rajya Sabha Secretariat is aware of the party’s decision,” he told reporters.
Mittal himself sought to play down speculation of a rift. “Raghav Chadha is our senior leader and will continue to be so. I have taken over from him just as he took over from ND Gupta earlier. AAP is a democratic party and believes in giving opportunities to different leaders to raise important issues,” he said.
“I am grateful to the party and Arvind Kejriwal for giving me this opportunity. With this change, we will be able to raise Punjab-related issues more effectively in Parliament, especially delays in funds and matters affecting the general public,” he added.
Chad is silent, sharing the most important events with Parliament
Hours after his replacement, Chadha did not issue any official statement, but posted a video on social media, highlighting the key issues he raised in Parliament.
The video referenced topics such as the tax burden on the middle class, data expiration concerns, parental leave as a right in India, and excess baggage fees at airports — issues that had previously drawn attention during his tenure.
Party insiders suggested that the move could be linked to electoral strategy, as Punjab heads to the Assembly elections next year.
The AAP currently has 10 Rajya Sabha MPs – seven from Punjab and three from Delhi – and is looking to increase its focus on state-specific issues in Parliament.
Mittal, an industrialist-turned-politician, entered the Rajya Sabha in April 2022. He was part of a multi-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi that visited several European countries after the Pahalgam terror attack last year.
