The internal divisions within the Aam Aadmi Party have now become clearly visible, as several party MPs have publicly criticised Raghav Chadha for allegedly avoiding criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This confrontation surfaced shortly after the party removed Chadha from his position as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.
What initially appeared to be internal dissatisfaction intensified following Chadha’s demotion, which triggered widespread speculation about conflict within the party. The situation escalated further when the 37-year-old MP released a video accusing his own party of attempting to suppress his voice. In response, AAP leaders quickly countered his claims, asserting that Chadha had grown hesitant to challenge the Prime Minister and had not been focusing on pressing national concerns. They also criticised him for allegedly spending valuable parliamentary time on relatively minor topics, such as the pricing of snacks, instead of addressing more serious issues.
AAP’s national media chief Anurag Dhanda openly expressed concern over what he described as Chadha’s reluctance to confront the central leadership. He stated that over the past few years, Chadha appeared increasingly unwilling to raise critical national matters or speak against Modi, indicating a widening divide within the party.
A day earlier, the party had officially removed Chadha, a Punjab MP, from the post of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and replaced him with Ashok Mittal. Party leaders justified the decision by emphasising that the limited time available in Parliament should be used to address significant national challenges rather than less critical issues.
Further criticism came from Dhanda, who cited several instances where Chadha allegedly did not align with the party’s stance. He claimed that Chadha failed to raise concerns when AAP workers were arrested in Gujarat, declined to sign a resolution opposing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and chose to remain present during the Prime Minister’s parliamentary address while other party members staged a walkout.
Echoing similar sentiments, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused Chadha of consistently refraining from supporting party positions. He alleged that Chadha neither endorsed key motions on national issues nor voiced opposition to the Prime Minister, and remained silent even on matters directly affecting party workers and the general public.
In his video message, Chadha defended his actions, stating that he had consistently raised issues concerning ordinary citizens, including topics that are often overlooked. He questioned whether addressing public concerns should be considered wrong and expressed concern that the party had formally requested that he not be given opportunities to speak in Parliament. Despite these developments, he asserted that his silence should not be interpreted as defeat.
The controversy deepened after it emerged that AAP had formally communicated with the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, requesting Chadha’s removal from the deputy leader position and recommending Ashok Mittal as his replacement. The party also reportedly asked that Chadha not be allocated speaking time under its quota in the Upper House.
Once regarded as a close associate of Arvind Kejriwal and one of the younger prominent faces of the party, Chadha had played a significant role in AAP’s political activities, particularly in Punjab and during its governance in Delhi. The current developments, however, indicate a significant shift in his standing within the party.
