Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday expressed his dissatisfaction a day after the Arvind Kejriwal-led party dropped him as its Deputy Leader in the Upper House, and said he would no longer be allowed to speak for it in Parliament.
In a video message on X, Chadha asked if it was a 'crime' to raise public issues in Parliament.
"Whenever I get a chance to speak in Parliament, I raise public issues. I raise topics that are rarely discussed in Parliament. Is it a crime to raise the issues of the people or to speak on public issues? Have I done something wrong? I am asking this question today because Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has asked the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to stop Raghav Chadha from speaking in Parliament," he said.
On Thursday, the Aam Aadmi Party wrote to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat requesting that Raghav Chadha be removed as its Deputy Leader in the House, proposing Punjab MP Ashok Mittal as his successor.
The simmering rift between Raghav Chadha and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has finally exploded into the public eye.
The situation is particularly tense because this isn't just a routine organizational change; it marks a significant breakdown in communication between the party leadership and one of its once-most-prominent faces.
The Core of the Conflict
In his video message, Chadha alleged that the AAP leadership has not only demoted him but has actively sought to bar him from speaking in Parliament.
Chadha's Defense: He questioned if raising "aam aadmi" issues—such as middle-class tax burdens, high food prices at airports, gig worker rights, and telecom recharge hikes—had become a crime.
He stated, "Why does anyone want to stop me from speaking? What harm did that cause the party?" The "Speaking Time" Controversy: Reports indicate that AAP wrote to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat requesting that Chadha not be allotted speaking time from the party's official quota.
The Replacement: He has been replaced by Punjab MP Ashok Mittal.
Why the Demotion? (The Party's Perspective)
While the party initially called it a "routine decision," internal sources and recent rebuttals suggest deeper grievances:
Disconnect from Core Agenda: The party has reportedly criticized Chadha for focusing on "fringe" issues (like samosa prices and paternity leave) rather than aggressive political attacks on the central government or defending the party's top brass during legal battles.
The Silence Factor: Chadha’s perceived silence following Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest in 2024 and his absence from major party rallies after Kejriwal's recent acquittal in the liquor case reportedly did not go down well with the "high command."
Discipline Issues: Rumors suggest he refused to sign certain party motions in the House, leading to questions about his alignment with AAP’s current strategy.
What Happens Next?
Chadha remains a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, but his role within the party is now effectively neutralized. By choosing to go public with a "Silenced, not defeated" narrative, he is positioning himself as a leader being sidelined for staying true to public welfare—a move that many political analysts see as a precursor to a potential exit or a long-drawn internal battle.
It’s a sharp turn for a leader who was once considered Kejriwal’s closest confidant and the party's "golden boy" in Delhi and Punjab politics.
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