AAP Rift: Raghav Chadha Removed, Party Faces Crisis

Aam Aadmi Party removes Raghav Chadha as Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader, sparking a major internal clash. Leaders trade allegations as political tensions rise.

New Delhi: A major internal leadership conflict has surfaced within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), following the removal of Raghav Chadha as the party’s Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha on April 2, 2026. The party also formally communicated to the Chair that Chadha should not be allotted speaking time in the Upper House, triggering a nationwide political debate.

Chadha Responds: “Silenced, Not Defeated”

On April 3, Chadha released a video titled “Silenced, Not Defeated”, addressing the public and defending his parliamentary record. He stated that his interventions were focused on issues affecting everyday citizens, including high airport charges, concerns of delivery partners working with platforms like Zomato and Blinkit, adulterated food, alleged exploitation at toll plazas, banking charges, middle-class taxation, and challenges faced by content creators.

Chadha alleged that instead of supporting these issues, the party leadership had chosen to sideline him and suppress his voice.

AAP Leadership Pushes Back

Senior AAP leaders, including former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Marlena, Saurabh Bhardwaj, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, responded with strong criticism.

They argued that Chadha had been raising “irrelevant” issues in Parliament, such as food prices and consumer concerns, at a time when the country faces more pressing challenges like rising LPG and fuel costs. The leadership emphasized that the party has limited speaking time in the Rajya Sabha and must prioritize critical national issues.

Additionally, Chadha faced several allegations from within the party:

• Not participating in a coordinated opposition walkout against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
• Not signing an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner
• Limited involvement during the arrests of senior AAP leaders, including party convenor and former CM Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh

Some leaders also questioned his loyalty, alleging that he distanced himself during critical moments for the party and suggesting he may be politically cautious in confronting the BJP.

Chadha Counters Allegations

On April 4, Chadha released a second video titled “Ghayal hoon, isiliye Ghatak hoon”, directly addressing the allegations. He denied claims of avoiding key parliamentary actions and rejected suggestions that he feared the BJP. Chadha further alleged that the party was running a “paid PR campaign” to defame him.

Political Silence and Public Divide

So far, no major opposition parties have issued official statements on the controversy. Political observers suggest they may be waiting to assess the situation before responding.

Meanwhile, social media remains sharply divided, with one section supporting Chadha’s stance on citizen-centric issues, while another backs the party leadership’s position on prioritizing larger national concerns.

As the situation continues to unfold, all eyes are on Chadha’s next move and whether this internal conflict will escalate into a larger political realignment within AAP.