The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has removed Raghav Chadha from the post of Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing him with Ashok Mittal. While the party has not issued an official explanation, the move has sparked discussions around internal dynamics within the outfit led by Arvind Kejriwal.
Raghav Chadha’s Removal Raises Questions
AAP has formally informed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat about the change and reportedly asked that Chadha not be allotted speaking time in the House. Though no reason has been made public, reports suggest internal concerns over discipline and alignment may have played a role.
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Shift in Focus and Political Positioning
In recent months, Chadha appeared to focus more on broader policy issues such as gig workers’ rights, paid paternity leave, airport pricing, traffic congestion, and menstrual hygiene. While these topics gained traction, his relative silence on core party matters raised eyebrows.
His distance was also noticed during key political developments. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when Kejriwal was arrested in the excise policy case, Chadha’s response was delayed. In 2026, he also did not react publicly after Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were cleared by a court.
Exit Buzz and Party Response
Speculation intensified when Chadha was not named among AAP’s star campaigners for the Assam elections. However, Ashok Mittal dismissed rumours of any rift, calling the change a routine organisational reshuffle aimed at giving more leaders responsibility.
A Shift, Not an Exit
Chadha, one of AAP’s prominent young faces since the 2012 anti-corruption movement, has held several key roles in the party. While his removal from the Deputy Leader post is significant, it signals a shift in responsibility rather than a clear exit from the party’s core structure.
