Aam Aadmi Party Replaces Raghav Chadha as Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader, Ashok Mittal Takes Charge

Aam Aadmi Party Replaces Raghav Chadha as Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader, Ashok Mittal Takes Charge

New Delhi, April 3 — The Aam Aadmi Party has replaced Raghav Chadha as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, appointing Ashok Mittal to the post amid speculation of internal differences.

Party leaders confirmed that a formal communication regarding the change was sent to the Rajya Sabha secretariat.

Chadha responded a day later, saying he had been “silenced, not defeated.” In a video message, he claimed he was being prevented from speaking in the House despite raising issues concerning the public.

“I’ve only spoken about people’s concerns. If that’s a problem, then what does it say?” he said, questioning the move.

The Rajya Sabha MP also shared a video highlighting topics he had raised during his tenure, including the tax burden on the middle class, data validity concerns, paternity leave, working conditions of gig workers and airline baggage charges.

Party leaders, however, rejected claims that Chadha had been stopped from speaking. Mittal described the change as routine, noting that leadership roles within the party are rotated.

“Our party gives opportunities to different leaders. Earlier it was ND Gupta, then Raghav Chadha, and now me. It’s part of a learning process,” Mittal said.

He added that the decision would not impact Chadha’s role in upcoming political engagements, including the 2027 Punjab elections.

Chadha, once seen as a close aide of Arvind Kejriwal, has maintained a relatively low profile in recent months. He was abroad during Kejriwal’s arrest in the 2024 liquor policy case and met him only after his release.

He also remained absent from key party events, including press conferences and rallies led by senior leadership, and did not publicly comment when Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were discharged in the case last month.

With this development, Chadha becomes the second AAP Rajya Sabha MP after Swati Maliwal to have reportedly fallen out with the party leadership.

The AAP currently has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha, including seven from Punjab and three from Delhi.