 removed him as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha){kind=link}
New Delhi: Raghav Chadha broke his silence on Thursday, hours after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) removed him as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, a move that has triggered speculation about internal tensions within the party.
In his first public response since the development, Chadha shared a video on X. However, the post was notably cautious in tone and made no direct reference to his removal, further fuelling questions about his equation with the party leadership.
The video compilation highlighted Chadha’s parliamentary interventions on a range of public issues, including mobile data expiry policies, the concerns of quick-commerce gig workers, paternity leave rights, and the ‘sarpanch pati’ phenomenon affecting grassroots governance. It also touched upon his remarks on how global conflicts impact Indian markets.
The development comes after AAP formally wrote to the Rajya Sabha secretariat seeking Chadha’s removal from the deputy leader’s position. The party also requested that he no longer be allotted speaking time from its quota in the Upper House.
Punjab MP Ashok Mittal, founder of Lovely Professional University, has been appointed as the new deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.
The communication to the secretariat and the Chairman’s office was sent by Sanjay Singh, who leads the party in the Upper House.
Responding to the change, Mittal described it as part of a routine internal process, noting that similar leadership transitions have taken place in the past.
Despite the reshuffle, Chadha continues to hold a place in AAP’s Political Affairs Committee — the party’s highest decision-making body — and has previously served as its national treasurer. At 37, he remains one of the youngest members of the Rajya Sabha, having entered the Upper House during his tenure as a Delhi MLA.
The party has not provided a detailed explanation for the decision, maintaining that it is a routine organisational change. Chadha, meanwhile, has refrained from making any direct statement regarding his removal.