NEW DELHI: The removal of Raghav Chadha from the position of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha marks the culmination of a prolonged phase of internal unease within the Aam Aadmi Party over his political positioning and role within the organization, according to multiple people familiar with internal discussions.
He was for long considered as the blue-eyed boy of AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal who had sent him to Rajya Sabha from Punjab in 2022. It was after this appointment, and particularly by mid-2024, that relations between the protégé and his mentor began to sour, with sources attributing the shift to Arvind Kejriwal not preferring him over other AAP leaders for key roles during the party’s tenure in Delhi between January 2020 and January 2025.
Chadha, who travelled to the United Kingdom in May 2024 for treatment related to what was reported as a serious eye condition and remained away from active political engagement for a period, had already begun to be viewed within sections of the party as operating with increasing independence prior to that phase, sources said.
While Chadha had stated that his medical condition and treatment abroad limited his ability to remain in close coordination with the party leadership during that period, party sources pointed to what they described as a contrasting public posture. According to them, during his stay in London, Chadha was seen travelling and attending public events, including Wimbledon, and sharing images and videos on social media. This perceived dichotomy between his stated constraints and visible public activity, sources said, did not go unnoticed within the party.
Party insiders also pointed to a shift following his marriage to Parineeti Chopra, with one of them saying, “After his marriage, there was a marked difference in the way his political moves were being made, and he started acting more independently.”
The concerns sharpened during the run-up to the 2025 Delhi assembly elections, when he was kept out of key internal strategy discussions and core group deliberations. People aware of the process said this reflected a growing perception within the leadership that Chadha was exploring a political trajectory not fully aligned with the party’s central command structure.
According to party sources, the distancing became more visible during the election cycle itself. While a collective media outreach plan was drawn up for senior leaders, Chadha was not part of that structure. Sources indicated that he had conveyed that he would not function strictly within the coordinated team framework and would instead operate independently, reinforcing concerns within the leadership about a parallel positioning.
The situation escalated after the party’s defeat in Delhi, following which Arvind Kejriwal conducted a rapid organisational review in Punjab within days. Feedback emerging from that exercise flagged concerns about Chadha’s functioning in the state, including perceptions among some functionaries that he was exercising influence beyond his formal role.
According to multiple sources, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann also conveyed reservations to the central leadership regarding overlaps in authority and their impact on governance and internal coordination. Subsequently, Chadha’s active role in Punjab affairs was scaled back.
Sources also referred to his decision to attend a comedy show when Punjab was facing floods which was not appreciated.
Strains were also visible during the period when Kejriwal faced legal challenges in the Delhi excise policy case. While several party leaders publicly rallied in his support, Chadha’s relative silence was noted internally. When questioned by a reporter about not speaking out or showing solidarity, he is learnt to have responded, “Why should I when everyone is doing it? Let them do it,” according to a person aware of the interaction.
Further indications of divergence were noted in Parliament as well. Party sources claimed that during a recent attempt by sections of the opposition to move a resolution relating to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Chadha did not associate himself with the effort, a move interpreted internally as a departure from the broader opposition line.
In the months that followed, sections within the party began interpreting his parliamentary interventions and public positioning as an attempt to craft an independent political profile. This, sources said, coincided with an internal perception that exploratory contact with the Bharatiya Janata Party had not yielded the kind of clarity or commitment he may have been expecting, though there is no official confirmation of any such engagement.
Parallel to this, party insiders pointed to a noticeable amplification of Raghav Chadha’s public image on digital platforms over the past few months. According to individuals familiar with the outreach ecosystem, multiple external influencers were engaged to project a significantly enhanced narrative around Chadha to make his “independent profile” more prominent.
Within sections of the party, there is now an assessment that Chadha’s future political course may lie outside the AAP, though no formal move has been made. Party functionaries also downplay the potential organisational impact of his exit, particularly in Punjab. According to internal assessments, Chadha does not command any significant independent ground support in either Delhi or Punjab and that his political rise was closely linked to the backing of the central leadership.
Some leaders also pointed to the role of Arvind Kejriwal in facilitating his elevation to the Rajya Sabha, suggesting that his position within the party structure was significantly shaped by leadership support. However, they added that his subsequent political choices have contributed to the current estrangement.
