In its communication, the party also asked that Chadha not be allotted speaking time from AAP’s quota in the Rajya Sabha, signaling a notable shift in its parliamentary strategy. The party has proposed Ashok Mittal as the new deputy leader and urged the secretariat to formalise the appointment at the earliest.
Currently, AAP has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha, including seven from Punjab and three from Delhi.
Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, has been associated with the AAP since its inception, beginning his political journey alongside Arvind Kejriwal during the drafting of the Delhi Lokpal Bill in 2012. He rose rapidly through the party ranks, serving as national spokesperson and later becoming its youngest treasurer following AAP’s 2015 Delhi Assembly victory.
Chadha contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from South Delhi but lost to Ramesh Bidhuri before winning the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections from Rajendra Nagar. He also served as vice-chairman of the Delhi Jal Board.
In 2022, he became the youngest Rajya Sabha MP at the age of 33 and has played a pivotal role in AAP’s parliamentary and organisational affairs, working closely with leaders like Manish Sisodia and Bhagwant Mann. In 2023, he was appointed as the party’s leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Sanjay Singh.
During his tenure, Chadha has frequently raised key public issues in the House. Last month, he highlighted concerns over the “sarpanch pati” practice, where women elected to reserved Panchayat seats often remain figureheads while male relatives wield real authority. He urged the government to ensure that women representatives can function independently, in line with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
He has also drawn attention to menstrual hygiene, describing it as an issue of health, education, and equality affecting over 35 crore women and girls. Chadha pointed out that lack of access to sanitary pads, water, and privacy forces many girls to miss school and criticised the social stigma surrounding menstruation. Earlier this year, he spent a day working as a delivery partner during gig worker protests to better understand the challenges faced by the sector.
The decision to replace Chadha as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha has sparked debate, with opinions divided on whether this move is a positive step for the party or an unnecessary change.
