Raghav Chadha had over the years become a name and face that was synonymous with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and along with Atishi (Marlena), he was amongst the young leaders who had the patronage of both Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. He had been handpicked to represent Punjab in the Rajya Sabha, a reward for his services in helping the party come to power in the border state. This happened while he was still a member of the Delhi Assembly after being elected from the Rajinder Nagar constituency. A chartered accountant by profession and a product of the Modern School, he wielded considerable influence in the organization and had also been provided with a plush office at the Punjab Bhawan in the national capital to deal with state and party issues.
However, for reasons best known to him, he had been distancing himself from the top leadership, and was missing in action when his presence would have made a difference. When Kejriwal was arrested and when he was released, and later when the court discharged him along with Sisodia and Sanjay Singh in the excise case, his absence was conspicuous. There were many in his party who said that ever since his marriage to cine actress, Parineeti Chopra, his interest in politics had diminished, and he appeared more comfortable in leading a life in the glamour world. He had been travelling extensively all over the world, and was never available when his defence of his party leaders would have mattered. Like Swati Maliwal, before him, he had apparently fallen out with his mentors, and it was a matter of time that he would have been shown the door.
However, what has happened is that Raghav Chadha has not been suspended or expelled from his party, something that he would have wanted. Instead, he has been downgraded and humiliated. His place as the deputy leader of the Rajya Sabha has gone to a party colleague, with the party writing to the chairman, not to allow him to speak on behalf of the AAP in Parliament.
The demotion was a clear indication that he was out of favour, and was no longer considered an asset of the party. It also led to a speculation that in the IPL season, Raghav Chadha would no longer be batting for his present team and could perhaps opt for an alternative in the new season. The young MP, the only Punjabi face of AAP in Delhi, is probably poised to wear new colours, and did not need the AAP cap anymore to pursue his political journey.
The message to him was clear that Kejriwal continued to be the central figure of the AAP and anyone who lost his confidence had no future left in the organization. This had happened to multiple leaders before him and therefore, it was not surprising that Raghav is on his way out, and is only there as long as his membership of the Upper House is valid.
Unsubstantiated allegations against him suggest that he was about to be investigated for his activities in both Punjab and Delhi and it was on the intervention of a relative, considered close to the top BJP leadership, that the government agencies held back their probe. It is now being speculated that he may join the saffron brigade, a development that would greatly embarrass the AAP.
The question that remains is that why the BJP would accommodate him at all or how his future would become brighter if he were to move over. In Punjab, as things stand today, the BJP does not figure in the contest for the Assembly polls later this year, with both AAP and Congress pitted against each other and the Akali Dal being the dark horse. In Delhi, the BJP came to power last year, after a gap and many years after it won the Assembly polls under the leadership of Madan Lal Khurana in 1993. The party has some ambitious leaders who have a bright future and his entry would only create problems rather than solving them. The Congress is itself struggling to stay relevant and thus cannot be the political destination of anyone.
The issue remains, what will Raghav Chadha do now? Take a sabbatical from politics or wait to be invited by the BJP to join its ranks? By releasing a video directly attacking his leadership, Raghav Chadha has burnt his bridges. Had there been someone with more years than him in politics in his place, he would have not reacted so quickly. He has listed some of the issues he raised in Parliament, but not one of them is considered to be important enough by his own colleagues, who have a grouse that he never spoke against the Prime Minister or attacked him in the House.
His sidelining also shows that the AAP may have ruled Delhi for over ten years and may have come to power in Punjab, but its selection of Rajya Sabha nominees, leaves much to be desired. In his case, no one had raised any objection since he was a party activist who had come from the grassroots, but the nomination of some others did not sit too well with either the cadres or with those who follow politics. The AAP had needlessly invited criticism and many of its detractors accused it of selling Rajya Sabha berths, a charge which has never been proved. Raghav Chadha’s innings with AAP is over and he shall be taking a fresh guard.
Between us.
